Singapore warns of terror threat to oil tankers in Malacca Strait

The Singaporian Navy has received indications a terror group is planning attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Malacca, a key shipping lane for world trade, a Singapore shipping body warned on Thursday.                                           

The Singapore Navy recommends ships using the strait between Indonesia and Malaysia strengthen onboard security measures, the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) said in an advisory to shipowner members.                                         

"This does not preclude possible attacks on other large vessels with dangerous cargo," the SSA said in the advisory seen by Reuters.                                          

Singapore is the world's top container shipping port and biggest ship refuelling hub. An attack that closed the Strait of Malacca or the port even temporarily could have a disproportionate impact on global trade.                                           

Neither Singapore's ministry of Defence nor navy could  comment immediately. The SSA's executive director Daniel Tan declined to give further details.

Up to 80% of China's oil imports and 30% of its iron ore imports pass through the Strait of Malacca -- a narrow, congested waterway between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

"The threat should be taken seriously as it comes from the Singapore Navy and has been shared with the shipping community," said Rohan Gunaratna, a Singapore-based expert on radical groups who has written a book on al-Qaeda.