Singapore calls on Malaysia to withdraw vessels after collision involving Polaris, government ship in maritime border dispute
- Collision between Polaris and the Greece-registered bulk carrier Piraeus happened on Saturday
- Singapore and Malaysia have been embroiled in a dispute over airspace and sea boundaries that flared up late last year
Singapore called on Malaysia to withdraw its vessels after a Malaysian government ship was involved in a collision with a Greek bulk carrier in the city state’s “territorial waters” .
The collision between the Greece-registered Piraeus and Polaris, a Malaysian Marine Department vessel which had been parked in waters that Singapore claims to be part of its port limit, happened on Saturday.
“Singapore reiterates its call for Malaysia to withdraw its vessels from the area, as the persistent presence of its vessels clearly poses a threat to safety of navigation in the area,” a statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Sunday.
“As we have said previously, Malaysia will be responsible for any untoward situations on the ground that arise from continued deployment of its vessels into this area.”
An earlier statement from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the collision occurred “in territorial waters within Singapore port limits off Tuas”.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Saturday that the Greek vessel and its crew had been detained.
