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FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
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INFO RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-CI/G-L/G-P/G-PS/G-PSR//
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 006053 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/OIC FOR M. MORRISSEY 
 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: IMO AORC ASEC UK
SUBJECT:  INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO):  REPORT OF THE 
THIRTY-THIRD SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FACILITATION OF 
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRAFFIC (FAL), LONDON, 3-7 JULY 2006. 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The thirty-third session of the IMO FAL met in London 
from 3-7 July 2006, under the chairmanship of Mr. C. Abela (Malta). 
The session was attended by delegations from sixty-six Member 
Governments, two Associate Member Governments, three 
Intergovernmental Organizations, and fourteen Non-Governmental 
Organizations.  Three Working Groups (WG) were formed to address a 
number of the agenda items.  All USDEL objectives were achieved. 
Accomplishments and outcomes of particular interest include the 
following: 
¶A.  Issues related to security and facilitation of the movement of 
cargo containers.  The Committee agreed to form a joint working 
group with the Maritime Safety Committee (subject to the final 
approval from the Maritime Safety Committee).  The terms of 
reference for this group were finalized and the U.S. was able to 
modify them in a manner that serves U.S. as well as global interests 
in cargo security. 
¶B.  The U.S. agreed to participate in an intersessional 
Correspondence Group to continue the work on the development of an 
explanatory manual to the Facilitation Convention, and to coordinate 
another Correspondence Group to finalize revisions to the IMO 
Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  GENERAL REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANNEX TO THE FAL 
CONVENTION. The Committee discussed in detail at plenary draft 
amendments offered by France, Spain, and the Netherlands to the 
Annex to the FAL Convention.  The amendments were in the areas of 
the arrival, stay, and departure of ships, and the arrival, stay and 
departure of persons.  Additionally, the Committee was advised of 
the status of intersessional correspondence group (CG) work on the 
development of an explanatory manual for the Annex to the 
Convention.  Subsequently, the Committee established a WG to: 
¶A. prepare a consolidated text of the amendments to the FAL 
Convention; and 
¶B. continue work on the development of an explanatory manual, 
including preparing the Terms of Reference for a CG following FAL 
¶33. 
 
The WG (1) considered the proposals of the draft amendments to the 
Annex of the FAL Convention put forth by France, Spain, and the 
Netherlands, (2) continued developing the explanatory manual to the 
Annex, and (3) prepared the draft Terms of Reference for a CG.  The 
WG was attended by 21 member states including the US, the European 
Commission, and four non-governmental organizations. 
 
The proposed amendments to the Annex of the FAL Convention, in 
general, involved the addition of data elements for individuals on 
the crew list and passenger list, and the change/elimination of 
certain standards and recommended practices that relax ship 
reporting requirements.  Additionally, the French and Spanish 
proposals included an immigration-related issue that would use the 
ILO Convention 185 Seafarers' Identification Document (SID) in place 
of a properly issued passport and visa document. 
 
The WG did not support the Seafarers' Identification Document 
proposal.  (NOTE: This issue was also debated at last session, FAL 
¶32.  END NOTE) Otherwise, the Contracting Parties were in agreement 
with the proposed changes and deletions to the Annex to the FAL 
Convention.  The US delegation supported the outcome, which balanced 
the security and facilitation of the movement of crewmembers, 
passengers, and vessels.  However, it should also be noted that the 
Contracting Governments and the representatives of the industry held 
a difference of opinion on the relationship between facilitation and 
security. 
 
The recommended amendments were forwarded by the WG to plenary for 
either approval in FAL 34 or notation in FAL 34 with approval in FAL 
¶35. 
 
The Committee, upon receiving the report of the WG, vigorously 
debated the subject on the floor with over twenty delegations 
participating.  The Committee decided to defer approval of these 
draft amendments until FAL 34, with a view to adoption at FAL 35. 
Additionally, the Committee approved the Terms of Reference for a CG 
on the development of an explanatory manual with a report due at FAL 
¶34. 
 
¶3.  ELECTRONIC MEASURES FOR THE CLEARANCE OF SHIPS. The Committee 
instructed the WG to: 
(A) Revise the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic 
Business (FAL.5/Circ.15) based on the latest amendments adopted by 
the Committee; 
(B) Develop new or recommend adoption of existing Message 
Implementation Guidelines for exchange of information electronically 
on all FAL forms; 
(C) Develop a uniform ship's pre-arrival electronic message for 
security information contained in MSC/Circ. 1130; 
 
LONDON 00006053  002 OF 003 
 
 
(D) Ensure the exchange of information with a view to keeping the 
FAL Committee informed of relevant developments relating to 
electronic business in the area of maritime traffic; 
(E) Enable the development of the Single Window System; 
(F) Consider the WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate 
Global Trade; 
(G) Consider the use of the WCO Data Model and Single Window Concept 
in view of the significant capacity building developments that are 
anticipated through broad global implementation of the adopted 
Framework; 
(H) Define proposals for the changes to procedures as a result of 
electronic exchange of information; actively follow the developments 
within international governmental and non-governmental bodies; and 
encourage the exchange of information between IMO and these bodies; 
and, 
(I) Identify ways and means to expand the use of electronic 
business. 
 
The WG was chaired by Japan.  Sixteen national delegations, 
including Hong Kong as an associate member and the WCO as an 
observer, participated in the WG.  The WG began its tasks by 
discussing development of a pre-arrival message for security 
information.  While there were many opinions expressed about the 
means for transmitting the information, it quickly became clear that 
the most critical need is for development of new data codes for 
security information.  As a result, the WG decided to submit Data 
Maintenance Requests (DMR) to UN/CEFACT and other appropriate 
agencies for these data codes.  The WG also reviewed the work of the 
Correspondence Group to incorporate into the FAL Compendium the 
amendments to the FAL Convention adopted at FAL 33.  In doing so, 
the WG identified numerous inconsistencies in the Compendium, some 
resulting from the amendments to the Convention.  The WG agreed to 
seek the Committee's approval to make revisions to the Compendium 
that exceed the original scope of the task to incorporate the recent 
amendments to the FAL Convention and to continue to finalize the 
revised Compendium.  The WG also discussed enabling development of 
the Single Window Concept, including responding to requests for 
assistance by countries trying to transition to electronic business. 
 The USDEL provided a copy of UN Recommendation 33, Guidelines for 
Establishing a Single Window, and emphasized that information and 
metrics on the capital requirements, operator skills, and 
maintenance costs would be valuable in helping those countries 
implement a Single Window Concept.  While the WG focused on these 
three issues, in-depth discussions were also held on the other Terms 
of Reference items with the common theme that engagement with other 
governmental and non-governmental organizations, particularly with 
the World Customs Organization, is necessary for further progress in 
facilitating electronic business.  The U.S. agreed to continue 
coordinating the intersessional Correspondence Group finalizing 
revisions to the Compendium and collaborating with the appropriate 
organizations to develop new data codes for security- related 
information. 
 
¶4.  SHIP/PORT INTERFACE (SPI) WORKING GROUP ACTIVITIES.  The SPI WG 
was chaired by the U.S. and was attended by 22 Member States, 1 
inter-governmental organization and 3 NGOs.  The FAL Committee 
tasked the SPI WG to: 
(A) Complete the review of the Guidelines for the Suppression of the 
Smuggling of Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals 
on Ships Engaged in International Maritime Traffic and draft the 
associated resolution; 
(B) Review, from the viewpoint of FAL, the draft terms of reference 
for the MSC/FAL Working Group on the Security and Facilitation of 
the Movement of Closed Cargo Transport Units and of Freight 
Containers; 
(C) Consider the need to revised Standard 2.1 and advise the 
Committee accordingly; 
(D) Prepare a draft form for reporting denials and delays of 
radioactive materials and an analysis of the mechanism for using 
such reports; 
(E) Consider the scope of the guidance required to address such 
issues and draft the associated FAL Circular for approval by the 
Committee; and 
(F) Consider the need for a correspondence group and, if agreed, 
propose terms of reference and identify the coordinator. 
 
The WG completed all tasks and reported out to the Committee. 
 
The Committee approved the draft Revised Guidelines for the 
Suppression of the Smuggling of Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and 
Precursor Chemicals on Ships Engaged in International Maritime 
Traffic and agreed to send them to MSC 82 for adoption, with a view 
towards adoption by FAL at its next meeting. 
 
The Committee agreed to create a Joint Maritime Safety Committee 
(MSC)/FAL Working Group to consider, if appropriate, amendments to 
 
LONDON 00006053  003 OF 003 
 
 
the SOLAS, FAL Convention and ISPS Code related to the security and 
facilitation of the movement of closed cargo transport units and 
freight containers, based on the World Customs Organization (WCO) 
SAFE Framework of Standards and supply chain security standards of 
other international bodies.  The Committee adopted terms of 
reference for this joint working group.  These terms of reference 
recognize that the rights of Customs and other public authorities 
should not be compromised.  This particular item was the result of 
vigorous participation by the U.S. in the working group and in 
plenary session. 
 
Subject to approval by the MSC at its 82nd Session from November 29 
to December 8, 2006, the Joint MSC/FAL Working Group will meet 
during that Session and also during the next FAL Session in March 
¶2007.  The FAL Committee agreed to urge all national governments to 
submit proposals for consideration by this Joint Working Group. 
 
The Committee agreed to a form developed by the SPI Working Group 
for reporting denials and delays in the shipment of radioactive 
material and approved the establishment of an intersessional 
correspondence group on a mechanism within IMO for the resolution of 
difficulties in the carriage of IMDG Code class 7 radioactive 
materials, under the coordination of Canada.  The intersessional 
correspondence group will prepare a working process by which IMO, in 
cooperation with IAEA, will monitor, facilitate, and coordinate the 
resolution of difficulties identified in the carriage of IMDG Code 
class 7 radioactive materials.  The group will also integrate the 
form entitled "Report on Difficulties Encountered in Relation to the 
Carriage of IMDG Code Class 7 Radioactive Materials" and wording 
related to Cobalt-60 being used in medical or public health 
applications as it may appear on the dangerous goods declaration. 
 
The Committee approved a FAL Circular on difficulties encountered in 
the shipment of dangerous cargos, in particular sporting ammunition 
and related components.   The intent of the Circular is to foster 
the alleviation of the difficulties encountered in the shipment of 
this class of dangerous goods (IMDG 1.4S). 
 
¶5.  CHAIRMAN/DATE AND LOCATION OF NEXT MEETING.  The Committee 
unanimously re-elected Mr. C. Abela (Malta) as Chairman and elected 
Captain A.E. Hill (Liberia) as Vice-Chairman for 2007.  The 
thirty-fourth session of the Committee is tentatively scheduled for 
26-30 March 2007, at the International Coffee Organization (ICO). 
The ICO is located at 22 Berners Street, London W1T 3DD.  The change 
in venue to the ICO for the next session of the FAL Committee is due 
to the refurbishment of the IMO Headquarters Building. 
 
CAULFIELD