8.1 The system's objectives are to initiate maritime
search and rescue and anti-pollution measures as quickly and effectively
as possible if an emergency is reported or if a ship that is supposed
to report does not and no contact can be established with it. All
possible means will be deployed to obtain the participation of the
ships required to send in reports. Should these fail to materialize
and the offending ship can be identified beyond doubt, the competent
authorities in the relevant flag State will be informed with a view
to their investigating the situation and possibly starting legal proceedings
under their national legislation. The CANREP mandatory ship reporting
system exists only for the exchange of information, and does not confer
additional powers to impose change in a ship's operations. The reporting
system will be implemented in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS,
the SOLAS Convention and other relevant international
instruments, and the reporting system will not constitute a basis
for preventing the passage of a ship in transit through the reporting
area.