STRAITS OF MALACCA

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 13

STRAITS OF MALACCA

Super-tankers to be limitetl

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 20

Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia have decided that fewer super-tankers should use the crowded Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and will appoint a technical group to work out the limits to be observed.

The Foreign Ministers of the three countries, who met in Singapore yesterday, also agreed to take immediate steps to regulate shipping, and to improve navigation aids in the straits, which narrow to less than 12 miles between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the mainland.

A Japanese super-tanker went aground there last month, and spilled nearly 3300 tons of crude oil, which spread to the waters of the three countries, all of which border the area. The tankerowner has been asked for several million pounds to pay for the clean-up. A statement yesterday, however, said: "The Ministers are of the view that existing schemes of insurance for damages caused by oiltankers are inadequate, and that steps should be taken to assure proper restitution.”