A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 171. Also calls upon States to take measures to protect fibre-optic submarine cables and to fully address issues relating to these cables, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 172. Encourages greater dialogue and cooperation among States and the relevant regional and global organizations through workshops and seminars on the protection and maintenance of fibre-optic submarine cables to promote the security of such critical communications infrastructure; 173. Also encourages the adoption by States of laws and regulations addressing the breaking or injury of submarine cables or pipelines beneath the high seas done wilfully or through culpable negligence by a ship flying its flag or by a person subject to its jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 174. Affirms the importance of maintenance, including the repair, of submarine cables, undertaken in conformity with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 175. Reaffirms that flag, port and coastal States all bear responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of international instruments relating to maritime security and safety, in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention, and that flag States have primary responsibility t hat requires further strengthening, including through increased transparency of ownership of vessels and the monitoring of organizations authorized to carry out surveys and issue certificates on their behalf, taking into account the entry into force of the Code for Recognized Organizations on 1 January 2015; 77 176. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with and implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law, in particular the Convention, and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 177. Recognizes that international shipping rules and standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization in respect of maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and the prevention and control of marine pollution, complemented by best practices of the shipping industry, have led to a significant reduction in maritime accidents and pollution incidents; 178. Notes that audits of Member States under the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme became mandatory in January 2016 under nine mandatory International Maritime Organization instruments and are to be carried out in accordance with the Framework and the Procedures for the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme and using the International Maritime Organization Instruments Implementation Code (I II Code); 78 179. Welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended, 79 and encourages States and competent __________________ 77 78 79 30/55 International Maritime Organization, resolutions MSC.349(92) and MEPC.237(65). See International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1018(26), A.1067(28 ), A.1068(28) and A.1070(28). International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution 17-21819