MPA: Malaysia and Singapore mutually suspend overlapping port limits

Malaysia and Singapore on Monday (8 April) mutually suspended respective overlapping port limits, according to an update from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

“At 0001hrs on 8 April 2019, Malaysia and Singapore mutually suspended the implementation of their overlapping port limits and applied their port limits in effect prior to 25 October 2018 and 6 December 2018 respectively,” said a MPA spokesperson.

According to him, the suspension was pursuant to one of the five recommendations in the report of the Working Group on maritime issues surrounding the overlapping Johor Bahru Port Limits off Tanjung Piai and Singapore Port Limits off Tuas.

The recommendations were earlier agreed upon by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on 14 March 2019 as a means to de-escalate the situation on the ground and pave the way for maritime boundary delimitation.

Related: Singapore/Malaysia reach agreement in maritime dispute
Related: Singapore/Malaysia: Territorial waters solution could come soon
Related: MPA: Reminder on prohibited anchoring in western Singapore port limits
Related:  Singapore extends port limits off Tuas, within territorial waters
Related: Singapore: Amendment to reporting procedures for vessels manoeuvring in port
Related: Singapore/Malaysia discussions on disputed port limit continue
Related: Malaysia ‘categorically rejects’ Singapore maritime port limit argument
Related: MPA: Johor Bahru port limit alteration ‘not recognised’ by Singapore

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 18 March, 2019