The changes in political situation that have taken place over the last several years and an advancing globalization have put the problems of international shipping safety among the most important problems of the world today. New threats such as maritime terrorism, piracy and armed attacks have become a new challenge to marine transport. The article characterises certain operations below the war level, i.e. shipping control and protection. The authors define and specify the operations associated with the protec-tion and control of the shipping.