International Legal Framework for the Prevention of Vessel-Source Marine Pollution: A Study of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore

Abstract

The Straits of Melaka and Singapore is among the world busiest shipping lane, making the Straits among the main arteries of global trade and commerce. Due to its status as important shipping lane, the Straits accommodate an unlimited volume of shipping traffic. High in shipping activities have increased the risks of vessel-source marine pollution to occur. The impact of the pollution shouldn’t be neglected as it resulted in serious damage to marine environment respectively, thus measures to regulate it is urgently needed. There are growing concerns among the littoral States of the Straits over protecting and preserving the marine environment from vessel-source marine pollution. The littoral States have ratified the Law of the Sea and the IMO conventions to protect the marine environment. The objectives of this article is to address the issues particularly those regarding vessel-source marine pollution in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and way to regulate them by focussing on the international legal framework for prevention of vessel-source pollution. This paper concludes that the governments of the littoral States are full of zip in legislating pollution prevention instruments with the aim of the Straits to be asserted as a safe waterway for navigation in the future.