UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
While many shadow fleet ships sail through the Strait without stopping, questions remain over what Singapore can do.
“What they’re doing is actually exercising their right of innocent passage through the Singapore Straits,” said Mr Mathiew Rajoo, partner at maritime and commercial law firm DennisMathiew.
“You have to bear in mind that the Singapore Straits is actually a traffic separation scheme that is adopted by the International Maritime Organization,” he added, referring to the routing system that manages ships travelling in opposite directions.
Although most shadow fleet vessels pass through without issues, analysts say they act as “risk multipliers” in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The larger concern arises when these typically uninsured vessels are involved in accidents, said Mr Mathiew, leading to unintended consequences like oil spills.
