The basic principle of the Guide is to con a ship through the straits, either eastbound or westbound, giving salient information for the each leg of the voyage. The advantage of the new electronic version lies in its functionality allowing for update for company-specific, ship-specific or time-specific differences thus tailoring the hardcopy Passage Plan to a unique document suited to the individual ship for the date and time of transit. The Guide is informed by marine experience form many shipmasters transiting the straits.

Contents

PART 1 - Background and Guidance                                                             1

1.1 Introduction                                                                                             3

1.2 The Cooperation Forum and the Marine Electronic Highway (MEH)         3

1.3 Special Issues                                                                                          5

1.3.1 Bridge Manning Levels                                                                          6

1.3.2 Engine Room Manning Levels                                                                6

1.3.3 High Risk Areas and Speed Controls                                                     6

1.3.4 Use of Engines                                                                                       7

1.3.5 Ship Services at Singapore                                                                     7

1.3.6 Training in Bridge Teamwork                                                                  7

1.3.7 GPS                                                                                                       7

1.3.8 Electronic Charts                                                                                    8

1.3.9 Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS)                                                             9

1.3.10 Electronic Mapping                                                                               9

1.3.11 AIS                                                                                                       9

1.3.12 VHF Communication and Collision Avoidance                                       9

1.3.13 Visual and Racon Navigational Aids                                                       9

1.3.14 Currents and Tidal Streams                                                                  13

1.3.15 Pilotage                                                                                               14

1.4 Passage Planning Guidance                                                                       15

1.4.1 Purpose of Passage Planning                                                                  15

1.4.2 Error Management                                                                                 15

1.4.3 Preparing the Plan                                                                                  15

1.4.4 Preparing charts                                                                                     16

1.4.5 Preparing or Amending Passage Notes                                                   16

1.4.6 Briefing                                                                                                  17

1.4.7 Monitoring the Passage Plan                                                                   17

1.4.8 Pirate Activity and Security                                                                     18

1.5 References                                                                                                19

PART 2 - Passage Notes                                                                                 21

2.1 Passage Notes                                                                                           23

2.1.1 Data Collection                                                                                       23

2.1.2 Traffic                                                                                                     23

2.1.3 Fishing Activities to the North of One Fathom Bank                                 24

2.1.4 Tidal and Current Effects                                                                         24

2.1.5 Navigation Marks                                                                                   24

2.1.6 Weather                                                                                                  24

2.2 Eastbound Passage Notes – Malacca Strait                                                25

2.3 Eastbound Passage Notes – Singapore Straits                                             41

2.4 Westbound Passage Notes – Singapore Straits                                           59

2.5 Westbound Passage Notes – Malacca Strait                                               75

Part 3 - Annexes                                                                                              93

Annex 1 - Rules for Vessels Navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore95

Annex 2 - Radio Reports for Mandatory Reporting                                           97

Annex 3 - VHF in the Mandatory Reporting System                                          98

Annex 4 - STRAITREP Operational Areas                                                       99

Annex 5 - Examples of Information for Inclusion on Charts                               101

Annex 6 - Guidelines for Voyage Planning                                                          103

Using the Passage Planning CD                                                                         116