PETALING JAYA: The growth potential of the bunkering industry is a positive for the country’s economy, especially because it can act as a catalyst for a more dynamic and competitive maritime ecosystem, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said Malaysia’s strategic location, bounded by the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea, gives the country an advantage in developing a world-class bunkering hub.
‘Bunkering’ is the supply of fuel or petroleum products from ship to ship.
Loke said the global bunker fuel market would grow by 4% annually to reach US$160bil (RM711bil) in 2030.
“We need to enhance our policies to boost the competitiveness of the bunkering industry and (ensure) environmental sustainability.
“The government will intensify efforts to ensure all obligations and conditions under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships or the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol) are implemented, including the use of double hull double bottom ships.
“Tankers with a single hull double bottom, delivered before July 1996, are allowed to carry oil and continue operations, but must have less than 5,000 tonnes deadweight.
“These tankers are not allowed to have heavy grade oil, with restrictions on ship navigation only within Malaysian waters.
“In addition, they must be classified with any organisation recognised by the Malaysian Maritime Department with the appropriate class notation,” he said.
Loke also said tankers with 600 tonnes deadweight or more, delivered after July 1996, must comply with the requirements of Regulation 19, Marpol Annex I before they are allowed to register as Malaysian vessels.
“The conditions and renewal will take effect through a new Malaysia Shipping Notice issued by the department from this month and to take effect on June 1,” he said at the signing of an agreement between the Malaysia Bunkering Association (MBA) and Malaysia Shipowners Association (Masa) yesterday.
Under the agreement, MBA and Masa will share information about their registered members, as well as the latest news or regulations of the country’s maritime sector and the International Maritime Organisation.
Also present at the signing ceremony were MBA chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Zinin and vice-chairman Sum Ang Kek, and Masa chairman Mohamed Safwan Othman.
At a press conference later, Loke said he would meet representatives from tech giants Meta Platforms (which operates Facebook) and Google next week to discuss issues surrounding undersea cable repairs.
He said the meeting was intended to provide clarity and certainty to these companies about the government’s position on cabotage policy restrictions for submarine cable repair vessels.
Earlier in his speech, Loke said the reactivated National Shipping and Port Council (NSPC) would hold its first meeting in two months to discuss the direction and future of the maritime industry, address current issues, and examine related policies to ensure it remains competitive.
The NSPC was established in 2018 with regular council meetings held every three to four months.
