The Bill gives a statutory basis to the concept of "preferential jurisdiction" and makes provision for the legislative mechanisms to give effect to it. For example, if a foreign ship on the high seas off the coast of Ireland was suspected of carrying drugs, the authorities of the flag state – that is, the country where the ship is registered – could, under the convention, request Ireland, or alternatively Ireland could seek permission from the flag state, to stop, board and search the ship. If evidence of drugs was found, the ship could be taken to and detained in an Irish port and the crew arrested. The crew would be guilty of a drug trafficking offence, not only under Irish law but also under the law of the flag state.