|
ISO initiatives relating to maritime security
16 |
In the context of the discussion of the above matter, the Assembly noted information provided by the ISO observer concerning three efforts relating to maritime security and data transfer as follows; |
.1 ISO/NP 16917 - "Data Transfer Standards for Maritime, International Transportation and Security". Existing government and industry databases were built primarily to serve needs of the owners and not designed to exchange data with others. Using new technology, accessing information on a broad basis without sharing partners being required to modify their databases is achievable. This standard provides the building blocks to link together these and future systems through seamless data exchange based on special Maritime/Security Data Dictionary;
.2 ISO 15849 - "Fleet Management Network Systems" was published in September 2001. This guideline provides for transfer of on-board ship date via satellite to shoreside facilities - home office, port authority, shipyard, classification society, etc.; and
.3 an international "pilot" effort in containerised cargo, identification and tracking using electronic seals where the ID of the person sealing the container is known and an alarm system identifies if any tampering occurs while in the terminal, telling security the exact location of the container.
The ISO observer then pledged ISO's support to the MSC intersessional meeting and other efforts on the matter of maritime security.
First extraordinary session of the Committee
17 |
The Secretary-General, in his opening remarks, moving away from the sole purpose for which the extraordinary session had been convened, recalled the world's reaction to the atrocious terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D. C. on 11 September 2001, which had prompted him to submit to the Assembly, through the Council, the draft Assembly resolution on Measures and procedures to prevent acts of terrorism which threaten the security of passengers and crews and the safety of ships, which had been unanimously approved by the Council at its twenty-first extraordinary session and by the Assembly on 20 November 2001. |
The Secretary-General then advised the Committee of the Assembly's decisions (see paragraph 2 above), including the convening of an intersessional MSC Working Group on Maritime Security, the outcome of which should be followed up by an ad hoc working group during MSC 75.
In recalling the Committee's decision at MSC 74 that three working group(on large passenger ship safety; bulk carrier safety; and the human element)should be established its seventy-fifth session, the Secretary-General noted that the ad hoc Working Group on Maritime Security matters would be a fourth group. Although such an arrangement would deviate from the provision in the Guidelines on organization and method of work, he expressed confidence that the extraordinary session would appreciate the need for such an exceptional action to respond to the exceptional circumstances created by the 11 September 2001 attacks. The Secretary-General also noted that endorsement of that proposal by extraordinary session would provide sufficient time for Member Governments and international organizations concerned to include security experts in the composition of their delegations to MSC 75.
18 |
Further to the Secretary-General's opening remarks, the Committee was informed of the unanimous adoption, on 20 November 2001, by the Plenary of the Assembly, of the annexed resolution A. 924(22). It was further advised of other decisions of the Plenary and the Technical Committee of the Assembly, as outlined in paragraphs 2 to 15 above. |
19 |
With respect to the decision reflected in paragraph 11 above, the Committee recalled that MSC 74 had agreed, in principle, that three working group as specified by the Secretary-General in paragraph 17, should be established at MSC 75;and noted that, if a decision was made for a new Working Group on Maritime Security, that, in essence, would require a fourth group, which would go beyond the provisions of the Guidelines on organization and method of work. However, nothing its Chairman's and the Secretary-General's comments that exceptional circumstances demanded exceptional action and that the special effort the Committee would be asked to make would be worth taking for the sake of both maritime safety and security and the Organization's good name, the Committee agreed to proceed with the establishment of a fourth Working Group on Maritime Security to meet during MSC 75 for the issue to be considered under a separate item; and invited Members to include security experts in their delegations to that meeting. |
Action requested of the Committee
20 |
The Committee is invited to note the above information when considering this agenda item(in particular, the outcome of the intersessional working group(MSC 75/17/1)and take appropriate action. |
|
