Germany has today (29 January) acceded to the 2005 SUA Protocols, which cover the criminalization of behaviour that threatens the safety of maritime navigation. The Protocols extend and strengthen the SUA Convention (and its related Protocol), which covers acts including the seizure of ships by force, acts of violence against persons on board ships, and the placing of devices on board a ship which are likely to destroy or damage it. H.E. Dr. Peter Ammon, Germany's Ambassador to the UK and Permanent Representative of Germany to IMO, met IMO Secretary-General Lim to hand over the instrument of accession.