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All coastal
states, including Malaysia, should establish a maritime assistance service
(MAS).
A resolution to the effect was adopted recently by the International
Maritime Organisation.
The principal purposes would be to receive the various reports,
consultations and notifications required in a number of IMO instruments.
This include monitoring a ship's situation if such a report indicates that
an incident may give rise to a situation whereby the ship may be in need of
assistance; serving as the point of contact if the ship's situation is not a
distress situation.
The new rule nevertheless requires exchanges of information between the ship
and the coastal State, and for serving as the point of contact between those
involved in a marine salvage operation undertaken by private facilities if
the coastal State considers that it should monitor all phases of the
operation. |
