Singapore To Host RECAAP ISC For Another Five Years

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, March 7 (Bernama) -- Singapore reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. This was reaffirmed as Lam Yi Young, chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Yoshihisa Endo, executive director of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC), signed a Headquarters Agreement by which Singapore renewed its commitment to host the ReCAAP ISC for another five years. The signing of the new Headquarters Agreement took place on the sidelines of the 6th ReCAAP ISC Governing Council Meeting this morning. It was witnessed by Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Vice-Admiral Edmund Tan, chairman of the ReCAAP ISC Governing Council, Philippines Governor to ReCAAP ISC. Tan is also commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard. In his address at the event, Lui said: "As a global hub port and a major flag state, Singapore is committed to combating piracy and armed robbery at sea." He said the new Headquarters Agreement would enable the ReCAAP ISC to strengthen its partnership with government and industry towards safe and secure shipping in Asia. Launched here in 2006, the ReCAAP ISC has established itself as an authority on incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. In addition to facilitating the prompt exchange of information involving ReCAAP Focal Points, the ReCAAP ISC also contributes to anti-piracy capacity building in Asia and actively engages the industry on measures to prevent attacks of piracy. -- BERNAMA