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)