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SINGAPORE, Monday (AFP) The global community needs to work together to protect ports and ships from terrorism, a senior executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said Monday.

MPA senior director Lee Seng Kong said last year's airborne attacks on New York and Washington also exposed the need for a concerted effort to strengthen security in the port and shipping sectors.

"The September 11 terrorist attacks have indeed amplified the threat of global terrorism and its impact on world trade," Lee told the opening of a workshop on martime security.

"We believe that close international cooperation coupled with the smart use of technology will go a long way towards ensuring the safety of sea-borne trade and the men and women who are involved in it."

Lee said a major challenge was to come up with a response that did not stifle the flow of trade.

"If that happened, and trade came to a standstill, the terrorists have won without committing another act."

The five-day East Asian workshop provides an opportunity for regional countries to understand the issues facing maritime security, Lee said.

He said Singapore, the world's busiest port with more than 140,000 vessel calls, was committed to playing a role in protecting the seas from terrorists.

"Not only do we want to ensure cleaner seas and safer oceans in terms of shipping and the environment, but we also want to ensure that all who sail and serve in the maritime industry are safe and secure."

Measures being taken by Singapore include the installation of two X-ray machines to screen containers, and signing on to the US Container Security Initiative, a plan aimed at averting a maritime terrorist tragedy in the United States.

The plan involves pre-screening and identifying high-risk containers carrying US-bound cargo. About 18 million containers are shipped to the United States each year. 

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