Tour boats should be installed with AIS, VHF radio - ESSCom

Tour boats operating in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) should be equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) and VHF16 Radio Channel, said Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander DCP Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid.

He said the equipment was necessary as it facilitates the agency to locate the boats and provide emergency assistance in case of any untoward incidence, including abduction or boat mishap.

"This is one of the security measures decided at a meeting to coordinate maritime security with tour operators which I chaired today," he said in a statement here, Friday.

Wan Abdul Bari said passengers' safety and swift action by the authorities to mount rescue efforts depended on how soon information on the incident reached them.

He said ESSCom would provide the guidelines for safety measures to be implemented by tour operators.

Meanwhile, ESSCom Operations chief-of-staff Brig Gen Datuk Md Rahim Mohamad urged all parties to report immediately to ESSCom Operations Centre at 089-836181 if they came across vital information related to crime or suspicious individuals. -- BERNAMA