ABSTRACT
In the wake of the tragic events of 11 September 2001, in the United States, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) called for a review of measures to combat violence and crime at sea. (IMO’s Home page). A resolution calling for the review of existing international legal and technical measures and procedures to prevent acts of terrorism that threaten the security of ships at sea and ports was also adopted. It was agreed to adopt new regulations and mandatory statutory instruments to enhance maritime security by preventing and suppressing acts of terrorism against shipping and make sea-lanes safe for international commerce. Meanwhile, the UNCTAD report ‘Review of Maritime Transport 2001’ had noted that, world-wide, the merchant fleet continued to expand at 1.2% and, at the beginning of 2001, was pegged at 808.4 million dead weight tonnage (dwt). (UNCTAD Home page) During 2000, 44.4 million dwt (up 9.6% from 1999) of new ships were delivered, 22.2-million dwt (down 27.7%) tonnage were broken up and 12.8 million dwt were removed from inventories due to vessel losses/decommissioning, resulting in a net gain of 9.4 million dwt. Furthermore, world sea-based trade recorded its fourteenth consecutive annual increase, and Asia’s share of imports and exports were 26.1 and 18.8 percent, respectively. Given these trends, sea-based commerce has entered a mood of great optimism.
