Melting polar ice cuts pollution in Straits of Malacca
KUALA LUMPUR: The polar icecap in the Arctic is melting away. Bad news for many scientists, but welcomed by shippers who see the fabled Northwest and Northeast Passages finally opening up.
And that could lead to fewer ships using the Straits of Malacca, causing less pollution and erosion of Malaysia’s coastline.
Maritime experts, though, believe Malaysia’s ports will not be affected.
Shipping companies worldwide have welcomed the news of the Arctic icecap melting, as it means ships will be able to sail through the Arctic ocean.
This will allow them to shorten their routes by thousands of kilometres.
Some scientists are worried that the Arctic ice around the North Pole could vanish altogether by 2030.
Ironically, this could turn out to be good news for the Straits of Malacca.
Within five years, fewer ships could be plying the waterway when the Northwest and Northeast Passages through the Artctic become fully navigable.
The result will be less pollution in Malaysian waters and reduced erosion of the country’s coastline.
Ship owners can’t wait for the two polar routes to open, as it would slash the distances between the Pacific, Europe and North America. Vessels can avoid routes through the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.
“Traffic here will be hugely reduced, which is great news for the straits,” said Maritime Institute of Malaysia director-general Datuk Cheah Kong Wai.
“We estimate there will be a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in traffic.”
The reduction, he said, would have enormous environmental benefits for the straits.
“There will be less pollution of the waters because there will be less discharge from ships.”
However, there would be no adverse economic impact on Malaysian ports, he said, as ships that service the Southeast Asian region would continue to call.
“The Northeast Passage only benefits ships from Europe and North America going to Korea, Japan and China (and vice versa). Those that stop here will continue to use the straits as it is still a shorter route (for them).”
Cheah also expects that there would be increased space for cargo bound for Southeast Asia as ships would not have to carry goods bound for China, Japan and Korea.
“If there’s more space, freight rates might be reduced as well.”
Although the Straits of Malacca is one of the world’s busiest waterways, Malaysia does not make any money from ships that pass through, but bears the cost of providing services such as navigational safety, lighthouses and vessel traffic systems.
“Ships pay port and light dues only when they call at a port.
“If they don’t call at a port here, it means they ply the straits for free,” said Cheah.
Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam concurred with Cheah’s view that the reduced shipping would not have an effect on Malaysia’s ports.
Source: nst.com
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