IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1505 
Recognizing the United States-Bahamas Proliferation Security Initiative 
Shipboarding Agreement. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 
Ms. CLARKE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the United States-Bahamas Proliferation 
Security Initiative Shipboarding Agreement. 
Whereas the United States and the Bahamas ‘‘Agreement on 
Cooperation to Supress the Proliferation of Weapons of 
Mass Destruction, Their Delivery Systems, and Related 
Materials by Sea’’ will put into place procedures and 
identify points of contact to permit the inspection by ei-
ther party of vessels flying their flags suspected of trans-
porting proliferation-related cargo; 
Whereas this agreement will promote the goal of the Pro-
liferation Security Initiative (PSI) goal to stop shipments 
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery 
systems, and related materials to and from states and 
non-state actors of proliferation concern; 
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Whereas this agreement will also serve to deter proliferators 
and help ensure that ships flying flags of the United 
States or the Bahamas will not become involved in the 
transport of proliferation-related cargo; 
Whereas this agreement will enhance the reputation of the 
Bahamas’ ship registry as a flag of quality and thereby 
increase its attractiveness to legitimate international 
commercial enterprises; 
Whereas this agreement is the ninth bilateral shipboarding 
agreement the United States has signed under the aus-
pices of the PSI; 
Whereas taken together, the shipboarding agreements with 
the Bahamas, Liberia, Panama, the Marshall Islands, 
Belize, Cyprus, Croatia, Malta, and Mongolia cover a 
large portion of the world’s cargo fleet, along with infor-
mal commitments among other PSI participating coun-
tries to expedite any request made by each other to board 
and inspect a ship flying their flag that is suspected of 
transporting proliferation-related cargo; 
Whereas the shipboarding agreement with the Bahamas is 
important because of the size of its flag registry; 
Whereas the Bahamas has the world’s third largest flag reg-
istry of merchant ships, measured by gross tonnage, and 
serves as an open registry for ship owners from dozens 
of countries; 
Whereas the Bahamas is demonstrating its continued com-
mitment to nonproliferation and willingness to set an ex-
ample for other countries with large flag registries; 
Whereas the PSI is an informal effort among states around 
the world aimed at stopping trafficking of WMD, their 
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delivery systems, and related materials to and from states 
and non-state actors of proliferation concern; 
Whereas the PSI is an innovative and proactive approach to 
preventing WMD proliferation that relies on cooperative 
actions by countries that are consistent with national 
legal authorities and relevant international law and 
frameworks; 
Whereas more than 90 countries have endorsed the PSI and 
participate in its activities on a voluntary basis; 
Whereas the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles makes 
clear that all PSI activities are taken consistent with na-
tional legal authorities and relevant international law and 
frameworks; 
Whereas this agreement strengthens the legal basis for the 
maritime interdiction of WMD-related items and con-
forms to both parties’ domestic legal authorities and 
international law, including the United Nations Conven-
tion on the Law of the Sea; 
Whereas the boarding procedures do not change existing 
international maritime law nor infringe upon the tradi-
tional principle of freedom of navigation; 
Whereas the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Sup-
pression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime 
Navigation (the 2005 SUA Protocol), adopted by the 
International Maritime Organization Diplomatic Con-
ference in London on October 14, 2005, will, when it en-
ters into force, create an international shipboarding re-
gime that will provide an international legal framework 
to facilitate interdiction in international waters of WMD, 
their delivery systems, and related materials, as well as 
terrorist fugitives; 
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Whereas the 2005 SUA Protocol is currently before the Sen-
ate for its advice and consent to ratification; 
Whereas the agreement establishes ‘‘24/7’’ points of contact 
for rapid communication in case of a suspect shipment; 
Whereas if a United States or Bahamas-flagged vessel is sus-
pected of carrying proliferation-related cargo, either one 
of the parties to the agreement can request the other to 
confirm the nationality of the shipment in question and 
authorize the boarding, search, and possible detention of 
the vessel and its cargo; 
Whereas a shipboarding request can be made and imple-
mented by either party; 
Whereas the agreement applies to flagged vessels of either 
party located in international waters; and 
Whereas the agreement does not apply to third-party vessels 
or to territorial waters: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the United States and the Baha-
mas Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding 
Agreement; 
(2) is deeply concerned about the proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their deliv-
ery systems, and related materials, particularly by 
sea, as well as the risk that such WMD may fall into 
the hands of terrorists; 
(3) acknowledges the widespread consensus that 
proliferation and terrorism seriously threaten inter-
national peace and security; 
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(4) is convinced that illicit trafficking in WMD, 
their delivery systems and related materials by 
states and non-state actors must be stopped; 
(5) reaffirmes the importance of customary 
international law of the sea as reflected in the 
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 
and 
(6) commits to cooperation to stop the pro-
liferation by sea of WMD, their delivery systems, 
and related materials. 
Æ 
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