Asia-Pacific countries discussed on Friday proposals to apply airport security standards to shipping in some of the world's busiest waterways to thwart the possibility of terrorist strikes.
Foreign ministers from the 24-member ASEAN Security Forum (ARF) discussed various ways to improve maritime security amid growing fears that ships are more vulnerable to a terrorist strike after airport security was tightened in the wake of the September 11 strikes.
"Security co-operation in the trafficking of goods, such as airport X-rays have been carried out," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajua, this year's host of Asia's annual security talks, told a news conference.
"This kind of co-operation and the strengthening of systems are part of the co-operation for security at sea."
He was speaking a day after UN-backed anti-terrorist measures - the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code - came into effect.
The ISPS code, signed by 147 governments, requires port operators, stevedoring companies and owners of ships larger than 500 tons to draw up plans for responding to a terrorist threat, implement tighter security around facilities and train staff.
Wirajua said the cost of security was the main problem for developing countries although "there are instances of countries offering aid, like Japan".
The conference, whose members include the world's main powers, did not get into details and proposals would be discussed at a conference in Kuala Lumpur in September, he said.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said members discussed the principle of applying the same kind of airport security to ships and ports. "Essentially, there was talk that you should seek to have the type of awareness about what goes on, what's being shipped just as we have knowledge about what's put on airplanes. So basically to apply the same type of standards."
Security in the Malacca Strait, through which passes more than a quarter of the world's trade and half of its oil, has become a concern for many in the region.
Experts have warned that terrorists could hijack a gas tanker and turn it into a huge floating bomb. Reported statements from a US admiral that the United States would be willing to help patrol the waterway that separates Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore ruffled some feathers over concerns it would infringe on their sovereignty.
The United States has since backed away from the offer, but Hassan said the three littoral countries would be open to help.
European Union Commissioner for External Relation Chris Patten said "there was some good, practical discussions" on maritime security at the conference.
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