Australia Signs Maritime Security Agreement

Australia today signed international protocols that would strengthen its ability to board ships suspected of participating in terrorist activities or WMD proliferation, the Australian Associated Press reported (see GSN, Dec. 15, 2005).

Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock signed the agreements in London during a meeting with Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation.

“The protocols were adopted at a diplomatic conference of the International Maritime Organization in October 2005 after three years of intensive negotiations. They will amend the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation,” Ruddock said in a prepared statement.

“The new protocols also create offenses concerning the use of oil and gas facilities for terrorist purposes and enhance rights under international law to take action against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by sea,” he added. “The protocols bolster and complement existing measures taken by the government to strengthen offshore maritime security and Australia’s commitment to the Proliferation Security Initiative” (Australian Associated Press/The Age, March 8).

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