Australian Maritime Issues 2007 - Royal Australian Navy

A Malaysian Perspective on International Maritime Counter-Terrorist Cooperation
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Modern technology and communications infrastructure, such as mobile communication
systems, efficient and unlimited Internet access, and an abundance of recreational fast
boats (that must be registered) are available to terrorists. Malaysia is quite advanced in
communication technology, with satellite communication and cell phone technologies
available to all. Terrorists could use pre-paid cell phones for communication as well
as a means to detonate a bomb remotely.
There would be significant effects on major powers’ economies and interests if the strait
was to close, if there was damage to port facilities, or if there was an environmental
catastrophe due to an oil spill from a tanker. It has been estimated that a closure of
the strait would cost Japan about US$87.9 million – equivalent to three additional
days of steaming for each crude oil carrier from the Middle East to Japan – and cause
the need to hire 15 additional very large crude oil carriers of 200,000 dead weight
tonnage (DWT). 8 For the coastal state, the environmental damage arising from an oil
spill would be enormous. The grounding of MV Exxon Valdez (95,000 DWT) in Prince
William Sound, Alaska, in 1989 spilt more than three million gallons of crude oil into
the sea and cost more than US$100 million and took more than 10 years to clean up
the mess.
Al Qaeda has threatened to attack the interests of the US and its closest ally in this
region – namely Australia. Since September 2001 there have been many attacks carried
out by Jemaah Islamiyah against the interests of these two countries, particularly in
Indonesia, and further attacks cannot be ruled out.
Skilled mariners would be vital to undertake any maritime terrorist activity in the
region. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are maritime nations and their economies
depend on maritime trade and marine industries. As such, access to skilled maritime
personnel is critical to these countries, and while controlled and monitored by their
respective governments, there is a pool of unemployed mariners who could be recruited
by terrorist groups.
What Could Terrorists Do?
There are a variety of methods terrorists could use to board a ship transiting the
Malacca Strait. They could use a fast boat to approach from the stern, board the ship
unseen by the crew and take control of the ship. They could infiltrate the ship’s crew
and take over the ship when the best opportunity arises; this has not yet occurred,
given the regulation of seafarer identification. They could stow away in containers,
and as long as they had adequate supplies, they could survive the duration of a long
voyage; this approach relates more to the movement of terrorists than taking over the
ship. In order to take over a ship, the relevant container would have to be located in
such a manner that accomplices already on board could open the container to release
their compatriots.