ID :
656743
Fri, 03/31/2023 - 15:57
Auther :

Japan Coast Guard, Malaysia's MMEA crucial partners in protecting security of Indo-Pacific

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Japan's Coast Guard (JCG) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) have become crucial partners in protecting the safety and security of waters in the Indo-Pacific region including waters around Malaysia.

This was a result of the programmes and collaboration both agencies undertook to further improve marine safety and security cooperation between Malaysia with Japan, JCG's Leader of Rescue Divers Tajiri Tomokatsu said.

The area also covers the Straits of Melaka and Singapore -- a crucial maritime traffic hub connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, he said in a statement today.

And this helps MMEA a lot because one of the duties of the agency was to ensure the protection of people and goods at sea.

The professional assistance given by JCG to MMEA since the latter's establishment as Malaysia's coast guard agency in 2006 has made this feasible through courses and seminars in important areas, such as diving methods.

According to Tomokatsu, MMEA divers have made significant improvements in their physical and mental capabilities as well as their diving skills, which was unquestionably important for undersea search and recovery operations.

"Rescue diving technique is an essential technique for ensuring the safety of human lives and property at sea," he said on a recent ocean diving programme conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and JCG for about 20 MMEA divers.

He said such programmes have further strengthened maritime safety and security cooperation between Malaysia and Japan.

Carrying out rescue missions in challenging situations as well as acquiring high-level technical skills and robust physical strength to return safely in any situation will be important factors in rescue diving, he said.

This has been made possible by the expert help provided by JCG to MMEA since the latter was established as Malaysia's coast guard organisation in 2006 through courses and seminars in crucial subjects like diving techniques.

Tomokatsu said MMEA divers have significantly enhanced their physical, mental, and diving abilities, which were undoubtedly critical for underwater search and rescue operations.

Among the techniques that were strengthened is the Breathing Holding, Horizontal Diving, Dolphin, Carry Weight Underwater, Treading Swim, lifting heavy objects, Mask Cleaning and Underwater Knotting.

During their ocean training, the divers improved their undersea obstacle-clearing and search-and-rescue skills, including netting and victim recovery.

Malaysia's Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy's Leftenan Madya (M) Muhammad Nor Arham Yusoff, the assistant director of the diving centre, said diving search and rescue operations are useful for saving people at sea during disasters or when vessels capsize.

According to him, divers are also trained to descend repeatedly, hold their breath, and save other rescue divers if their oxygen tanks run out or when they encounter difficulties.

It also involves collecting evidence for the examining officers and rescuing victims from dark, cramped underwater spaces.

He recalled an accident involving the sand dredging ship JBB Rong Chang 8 in 2018 which capsized in waters off Johor whereby the victim was found still alive in air pockets in the engine room.

According to him, poor weather is typically to blame for maritime accidents.

Accidents at sea usually occur due to bad weather conditions, he said.

Muhammad said MMEA currently has over 120 divers  presently been assigned to MMEA's Special Task and Rescue Team (STAR), with 30 of those divers being assigned to the coastal states of Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Pahang, and Perak

-- BERNAMA


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