Attacks on Ships: Emerging Problems for the Shipping Industry

Abstract

This paper was presented as part of Business Session 5, on the topic of 'Vulnerability of Masters and their Vessels', which was chaired by Michael Fisher. The second page of the paper contains a short biography of the author.

This paper contains the slides for White's presentation on attacks at sea, encompassing traditional crimes such as piracy and domestic crimes committed within the ship. White considers the international conventions which apply to crimes of this nature, as well as Australian federal and state legislation, Commonwealth terrorist legislation, and available defences against attacks on ships.

White concludes that attacks on ships are not decreasing, that the most dangerous world seas lie near unlawful coastal States, that the persons being attacked are generally not able to defend themselves, and that this is a world problem which requires more determined pressure on the offending coastal States.