Segeln

Dies ist ein Vorschlag der US-Regierung zur Ergänzung der Inter-
national Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, kurz SOLAS:


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MEASURES TO ENHANCE MARITIME SECURITY
Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships
Submitted by the United States

SUMMARY

Executive summary:

This document proposes a way forward toward adoption of an amendment to
SOLAS to provide for long-range identification and tracking of ships

Action to be taken:

Paragraphs 10 and 11

Related documents:

COMSAR 9/WP.5, COMSAR 9/12/7, MSC 78/26, MSC 79/23 and Circular letter
No.2595 of 10 November 2004


Introduction

1 This paper is being submitted for the purpose of proposing a way
forward regarding amendments to SOLAS to provide for long-range
identification and tracking of ships.

Background

2 The United States has submitted for the consideration of IMO Members
and Contracting Governments a proposed SOLAS amendment with a view to
adoption at MSC 80 (Circular letter No.2595 of 10 November 2004).

3 At COMSAR 9 (document COMSAR 9/WP.5, annex 1), the Sub-Committee
proposed revisions to the preliminary draft amendments to SOLAS chapter
XI-2 and forwarded them to MSC 80 to note as a basis for further
discussion and development. COMSAR 9 has also asked the Committee to
note, as a work in progress, the proposed performance standards
(document COMSAR 9/WP.5, annex 2) for LRIT. Finally, the Sub-Committee
established a Correspondence Group on LRIT to address outstanding
issues.

4 Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) has been on
the work programme of the Committee and subsidiary bodies since the 12
December 2002 Diplomatic Conference. Conference resolution 10 urges
Contracting Governments to take, as a matter of high priority, any
action needed at a national level to give effect to implementing and
beginning the long-range identification and tracking of ships.

The United States believes that LRIT is critical to global maritime
security and that our proposed amendment is a balanced and reasonable
approach to the needs of flag, port and coastal States. In particular,
we solicit support from all Contracting Governments for coastal State
access to LRIT information (ship position, date, and time) when the
ship is within 2000 nm of a coastal State in order to identify,
classify and determine if the ship is of further interest to the
coastal State.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 2001, the United States
initiated a requirement for foreign flag ships to send a Notice of
Arrival 96 hours prior to their arrival in a United States port.

Based on our study of the processing of information related to this
identification and classification of ships and crews, and correlating
this information with other sources, 96 hours was considered necessary.

Similarly, for vessels transiting a coastal States waters, sufficient
time is needed in order for that State to respond to a perceived
threat. For a ship travelling at 20 knots, in
96 hours it will travel roughly 2000 nm. We are of the view that 2000
nm is critical to providing an Administration sufficient time to effect
a response to a ship off its coast should a response be needed.

5 At MSC 78 (document MSC 78/26), the Committee agreed that LRIT
providers should be approved by the Committee and that Contracting
Governments should be able to purchase LRIT information directly from
approved LRIT providers. The Committee further instructed the COMSAR
Sub-Committee to develop and propose conditions which the Committee may
impose on an LRIT provider when considering approval. The Committee
also instructed COMSAR to develop a robust intergovernmental oversight
scheme for the approved LRIT providers.

Discussion

6 Recognizing the importance and significance of long-range
identification and tracking of ships, the United States is of the view
that the Organization should adopt the necessary SOLAS amendments at
MSC 80. Under the provisions of SOLAS Article VIII(b), the United
States has proposed this SOLAS amendment for consideration and adoption
at MSC 80.

7 In COMSAR 9/12/7, Cyprus et al. recommended that LRIT should take
into account safety and environmental protection, and proposed to
introduce the main principles of LRIT into SOLAS V. The United States
opposed this position at COMSAR 9, citing the Committees direction to
proceed to finalize the work with respect to LRIT for use by
Contracting Governments for the enhancement of maritime security.
However, because of the significant support for the Cyprus et al
position and, based on the perspective that this would not delay
adoption of LRIT, this issue was put to the maritime security working
group for discussion.

Two edits in square brackets in the COMSAR revision to the SOLAS
amendment address the issue of applications of LRIT for other than
security purposes. The United States supports adopting the LRIT
amendment for security, which the Committee has directed has the
highest priority, in SOLAS chapter XI-2. When consideration is given to
adopting LRIT for uses other than security and SAR, the United States
is open to consideration of the method of accomplishing that, including
amendment to SOLAS V, by footnoting or referencing it in chapter V.

8 The United States recognizes that there remain certain outstanding
technical issues concerning performance standards and the role of
co-ordinating an oversight body for LRIT discussed at COMSAR 9.
However, we believe that these technical issues need not and must not
hold up adopting the amendment to SOLAS at MSC 80, while proceeding
with work on the performance standards using the COMSAR correspondence
group or possibly an intersessional meeting. It appears that IMSO may
have some support as the intergovernmental oversight organization. In
order to progress the LRIT effort, the United States is prepared to
consider their participation in a limited, administrative oversight
role.

9 To further enhance the LRIT efforts, the United States is prepared to
offer to sponsor and pay for an intersessional working group to resolve
those remaining outstanding issues related to the implementation of
LRIT, including the performance standards.


Action requested of the Committee

10 The Committee is requested to consider the draft SOLAS amendment
submitted under Circular letter No.2595 dated 10 November 2004 as
revised in the draft SOLAS amendment edited by COMSAR (document COMSAR
9/WP.5, annex 1) for adoption at MSC 80.

11 The Committee is requested to consider the United States offer to
host an intersessional meeting to resolve any outstanding issues
related to the implementation of LRIT.
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