What are major security concerns and potential threats? Are they real or imaginary?
The threat of terrorist acts against the shipping and port industry are real and not imaginary. It is for these reasons the Assembly of IMO, in November 2001, decided that the Organization should review measures and procedures to prevent acts of terrorism which threaten the security of passengers and crew and the safety of ships. It is also obvious that the Contracting Governments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, when they adopted the special measures to enhance maritime security in December 2002, were well aware of potential threats. Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code provide a methodology of addressing security threats and managing potential risks which ships and ports involved in the international trade may face. IMO is of the view they are adequate to protect the shipping and the port industry if implemented and enforced wisely and effectively in conjunction with the wider United Nations counter terrorism strategy. Ships engaged on domestic voyages and ports which serve such ships need to
