A Panamanian ship that failed to carry out a new international
protocol requiring all ships to be equipped with anti-terror
systems has been detained in Penglai City, a coastal city in east
China's Shandong
Province.
The ship, registered as "GOUTA", is a refrigerator vessel with
2,462 tons of capacity. It was heading from Panama to Penglai port
this month when the local maritime safety administration found it
lacked international security certificates or temporary
international security certificates.
The ship could only leave the port after obtaining the necessary
security certificates, according to authorities with the local
maritime safety administration.
An international protocol took effect on July 1 this year to
ensure anti-terror safety measures for international ships and
harbors.
Under the protocol, over 60,000 international ships and 20,000
international harbors will have to be equipped with anti-terror
systems and related maritime safety administrations could detain or
take other imperative measures on the ships without anti-terror
systems.
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2004)