On 28 July 2010 the 2005 Protocols extending the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 enter into force.
On 29 April 2010 the criteria to enter into force were met for the following Protocols:
1. The 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 (the SUA Convention);
2. the 2005 Protocol to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf.
The SUA Convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organization as the international maritime community’s response to the terrorist hijacking of the passenger ship Achille Lauro back in 1985. The SUA Convention was aimed at preventing acts of violence, cruelty and threats against ships, persons and cargo and foresaw the application of common jurisdiction to the guilty regardless of the legal status of waters where such acts took place. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) experience in prevention of unlawful acts against civil aircrafts was taken into account during the development of the SUA Convention.
The 1988 Protocol to the SUA Convention extended the scope of the SUA Convention to the similar unlawful acts against fixed platforms located on the continental shelf.
The 2005 Protocols have extended the scope of the efficient measures and include such acts as illegal transportation and usage of explosive, radioactive, biological, chemical or nuclear weapon or intimidation of such usage. The Protocols foresee the States Parties’ cooperation procedure in cases there are grounds to consider violence of the SUA Convention is likely.
The Protocols entering into force on 28 July 2010 are to strengthen maritime security and to enhance safety at sea and are complementary to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code which aims at establishing practical measures to make international shipping and port facilities safe from terrorist activity and is mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended.
As a recognized organization RS is authorized by maritime administrations to provide services on ship security plan approval, ship surveys and issuance of international certificates for compliance with the ISPS Code.
RS performs:
• review and approval of ship security plans and amendments thereto;
• ship surveys under SOLAS '74 Chapter XI-2 and ISPS Code on behalf of Administration;
• issue and endorsement of international certificates.
