The International Maritime Organization Friday passed several amendments to protect international shipping from attack and prevent ports from being used to move weapons of mass destruction (see GSN, Dec. 6).

The amendments — signed by 108 countries and scheduled to come into effect in 2004 — include the installation of electronic ship identification devices and security assessments for ports in signatory countries.

“Until now, there has not been an internationally agreed framework in place for addressing security,” said Lee Adamson, public information manager for the IMO.

Preventive measures can only do so much and the key to shipping safety is good intelligence and cooperation among governments, said Ted Thompson, executive vice president for the International Council of Cruise Lines.

“Can you ask a building to try to prevent itself from being hit by an airplane?  No, you can’t,” Thompson said (Matthew Garrahan, Financial Times, Dec. 14).

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