Maritime Security in a Multilateral Context: IMO Activities to Enhance Maritime Security

Abstract

AbstractIMO has, as an integral part of its mandate, the duty to make travel and transport by sea as safe as possible. In the wake of the tragic events of 11 September 2001 in the United States of America, the 22nd Session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which met at the Organization's London headquarters in November 2001, adopted Resolution A.924(22) on the "Review of Measures and Procedures to Prevent Acts of Terrorism which Threaten the Security of Passengers and Crews and the Safety of Ships". Since then a number of meetings of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and its Working Group on maritime security were held and new maritime security regulations were developed. These mandatory provisions are detailed in the new Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention and the new International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which was subsequently adopted by a Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security, held at the IMO headquarters in London from 9-13 December 2002, for formal entry into force on 1 July 2004 (if deemed accepted on 1 January 2004). In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the IMO in July 2001 to ensure closer co-operation. In addition to the work that the International Labour Organization (ILO) is undertaking regarding the development of a new seafarers' Identity Document, further co-operation is also anticipated in a Joint ILO/IMO Working Group to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for the security of all port areas.