(The following article originally appeared in the June 22nd
edition of Lloyd's List, the world's premiere shipping
newspaper. A link to the paper can be found at the bottom of this
article.)

Nippon Foundation president makes call for
international co-operation, writes Tony Gray

USERS of high-risk waterways such as the
Malacca Strait should contribute to financing
the safety of navigation, one of the maritime
industries' main benefactors urged last night.

Yohei Sasakawa, president of the Nippon Foundation, said there
was "a need to re-evaluate our traditional thinking that the
safety on the seas is always offered free of charge."
  The foundation is a philanthropic organisation which, for
example, has provided $100m of assistance to improving navigation
in the Malacca Strait.
  Delivering a special lecture on 'Maritime Human Resources
Development and its Future' at the International Maritime
Organisation, Mr Sasakawa stressed that international co-operation
was essential to tackling dangers such as piracy, substandard
shipping and harmful emissions.
  "IMO member states are trying to address these issues," he
acknowledged. "But some of the issues are too difficult to be
tackled by unilateral measures of individual governments."
  The only possible way forward was international co-operation
in which the IMO was expected to play a central role.
  "I firmly believe that the IMO will be able to work together
with member states, thus making the measure more effective and
enforceable," Mr Sasakawa said.
  The Nippon Foundation was willing to make a further
contribution when IMO took a more positive initiative in
addressing the difficult challenges facing the international
maritime community.
  "We are prepared to set sail with you for the sustainable
development of maritime activities," he said.
  Mr Sasakawa defined the "sustainable development of maritime
activities" as "an international policy framework that enables us
to seek the co-existence of the oceans and of mankind."


Turning to the safety of the Malacca Strait, the busiest in the
world with 80,000 ships a year passing through, he noted that many
countries benefited from its use.
  Was it realistic, Mr Sasakawa asked, to ensure the safety of
navigation in such high-risk areas while depending only on
traditional approaches?
  "In high-risk areas where the safety of navigation incurs high
costs, we need to examine a new system where the burden should be
borne not only by the coastal countries but also by the users," he
continued.
  "I hope that IMO will exercise its leadership in examining
such a new system, taking advantages of all the expertise and
enthusiasm of its member countries."
  Mr Sasakawa welcomed the IMO's initiative in holding a Malacca
Straits Conference in Indonesia this autumn.

--Foreign surveillance planes should be invited to help to fight
piracy in the Strait of Malacca, Malaysia proposed yesterday in
its clearest invitation for international assistance, Reuters
reports.
  Malaysia, along with neighbour Indonesia, has been cool to
hints of an international role in policing the waterway but would
allow maritime aircraft from nations such as the US, Japan and
Australia to use its domestic air space.
  "It is to be managed as an international effort by the
international community," said deputy prime minister Najib Razak.
  "Perhaps the international community can provide maritime
aircraft for 24-hour surveillance over the Straits of Malacca.
  "They can fly these aircraft, but the consoles and monitors
can be operated by Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans."