Auparavant, il existait des dispositions similaires, mais leur application était souvent laissée à la discrétion de l'État du pavillon ou de la partie contractante, l'Union européenne, qui décidait si le navire allait ou non être mené au port.
In the past, there were provisions similar to that, but it was often left to the discretion of the flag state or the contracting party, the European Union, as to whether the vessel would or would not be brought to port.