The United States and the Marshall Islands have signed a reciprocal shipboarding agreement in support of the Proliferation Security Initiative, the Department of State announced on August 14.

The agreement covers ships registered and flagged by the Marshall Island, which constitute the world's 11th largest commercial fleet when measured in gross tonnage. Under terms of the agreement, either nation query another's ship suspected of carrying materials related to weapons of mass destruction and, in necessary, board and search the vessel.

With shipboarding agreements from Liberia, Panama, and the Marshall Islands, plus agreements from other Proliferation Security Initiative partners, more than 50 percent of commercial shipping fleet is now subject to such boarding and search procedures, according to the State Department.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
August 14, 2004

FACT SHEET

The United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding Agreement

On Friday, August 13, 2004, the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a reciprocal maritime Shipboarding Agreement in support of the Proliferation Security Initiative. Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randy Schriver signed the agreement.

The Proliferation Security Initiative announced by President Bush on May 31, 2003, seeks to establish cooperative partnerships worldwide to prevent the flow of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern.

The Shipboarding Agreement will facilitate cooperation between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands to prevent shipments by sea of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, or related materials by establishing procedures to board and search vessels suspected of carrying such items that are located in international waters. If a U.S. or Marshall Islands flagged vessel is suspected of carrying proliferation-related cargo, either Party to this agreement can request the other to confirm the nationality of the ship in question and, if needed, to authorize the boarding, search, and possible detention of the vessel and its cargo.

Contributions to the Proliferation Security Initiative: The Marshall Islands is the third state to sign a Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding Agreement with the U.S.; Liberia was the first to sign on February 11, 2004, followed by Panama on May 12, 2004. The combination of the Marshall Islands, Liberia, and Panama, plus commitments by Proliferation Security Initiative partners, means that more than 50 percent of commercial shipping fleet dead weight tonnage is now subject to rapid-action consent procedures for boarding, search, and seizure by the United States.

Benefits to Shipping and Commerce: Signing the Shipboarding Agreement demonstrates the Marshall Islands' commitment to engender greater confidence and security in its flag registry, the world's eleventh largest by gross tonnage. It bolsters the reputation of the Marshall Islands' ship registry and the confidence of those involved in the shipping trade that the Marshall Islands government is working to ensure that Marshall Islands flagged ships are not misused.

For additional information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see http://www.state.gov/t/np/c10390.htm.