Maritime tool to help ships in Singapore, Malacca straits

With more than 70,000 ships using the straits of Malacca and Singapore each year, safe passage is a key concern and the focus of a new collaboration between Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The initiative called Marine Electronic Highway, to be rolled out in 2013, will relay real-time data - on winds, weather and currents - to ships from maritime information centres in the three countries.

Ships will also be alerted to the locations of protected natural areas and coral reefs.

The project was launched on Monday by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, guest of honour at a maritime conference.