HAVING ADOPTED amendments to the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (hereinafter referred
to as "the Convention"), concerning special measures to enhance safety
and security,
RECALLING that long-range identification and tracking of
ships at sea is a measure that fully contributes to the enhancement
of the maritime and coastal States security as a whole,
HAVING ACKNOWLEDGED that Inmarsat C polling is currently
an appropriate system for long-range identification and tracking of
ships,
RECOGNIZING the importance of an early implementation of
long-range identification and tracking of ships,
RECOGNIZING ALSO that the equipment installed on board and
ashore is available for immediate use and will allow the early implementation
of such measures,
1. URGES Contracting Governments to take, as a
matter of high priority, any action needed at national level to give
effect to implementing and beginning the long-range identification
and tracking of ships;
2. INVITES Contracting Governments to encourage
ships entitled to fly the flag of their State to take the necessary
measures so that they are prepared to respond automatically to Inmarsat
C polling, or to other available systems;
3. REQUESTS Contracting Governments to consider
all aspects related to the introduction of long-range identification
and tracking of ships, including its potential for misuse as an aid
to ship targeting and the need for confidentiality in respect of the
information so gathered.