ITF Inspectors Denied Access to P&O Ferries in Dover
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said its inspectors have been blocked from investigating crew welfare issues on board P&O Ferries’ vessels in the Port of Dover.In March, P&O Ferries terminated about vessel 800 staff to hire cheaper agency workers in a move that has drawn backlash from politicians, workers and the general public.The ITF said Dover Port Police this week refused access to its inspectors dispatched to look into welfare issues raised by replacement crew members, citing failure to give advanced warning for the visit.“As an ITF Inspector in the U.K.
Abu Dhabi's Mugharraq Port Recognized as International Port Facility
Abu Dhabi's Mugharraq Port has been recognized as an international port facility under the provisions of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code), AD Ports Group announced on Sunday.The port, located in the Al Dhafra region, can now receive international and local vessels including container feeders, bulk and break-bulk carriers, mobile offshore drilling units, tugboats, chemical tankers, offshore support vessels, passenger ships, and high-speed cargo crafts, AD Ports Group said. (Reporting by Reuters Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard)
Med Marine to Build Tug for Port of Mombasa
Turkish tugboat builder, towage and pilotage operator Med Marine said it has signed a deal with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to build and deliver a new 42-meter tugboat for the Port of Mombasa.The vessel is scheduled to enter service in East Africa’s largest port in 2021 as part of the KPA’s equipment modernization and maintenance program aiming to enhance efficiency at the port.The vessel design is from the RAstar ASD tug series by Canada’s Robert Allan Ltd. The new RAstar 4200 with a bollard pull of 120 metric tons, ranking it among the most powerful tugs Robert Allan Ltd.
Maldives Hosts Maritime Security Workshop
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) is mandatory instrument addressing the safety and security of ships, ports, cargo and crew, says International Maritime Organization (IMO).According to the UN body, it contains detailed security-related requirements for Governments, port authorities and shipping companies to ensure preventive measures can be taken if a security threat is determined.Maldives has become the latest country to receive maritime security training from IMO on the ISPS Code, specifically for its Designated Authority (DA) and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs).A three-day workshop in Male, Maldives…
UK Focuses on Safety of Navigation
International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s rules and regulations for suppressing unlawful acts against the safety of navigation can be seen in the wider context of the global fight against terrorism.The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED) carries out assessment visits to countries to assess their compliance with various international security instruments and UN Security Council resolutions.IMO took part in a follow-up visit to the United Kingdom (7-11 October) together with experts from Interpol, the World Customs Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, particularly to assess the country's implementation of the special maritime security measures in IMO's SOLAS chapter XI-2…
Trinidad and Tobago Conducts Maritime Security Training
Trinidad and Tobago is the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State to receive maritime security training. A self-assessment and audit training workshop took place in in Port of Spain, Trinidad (23-27 September).Participants were trained in self-assessing how two key IMO maritime security instruments – SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code – are implemented at the port facility level. This is done using established, industry-standard IMO and ISO procedures to identify areas for improvement.The course addressed outcomes of a previous workshop on ISPS Code responsibilities…
Ghana Implements SOLAS
Ghana is the latest country to benefit from training on the implementation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) maritime security standards in SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.The workshop (9 -13 September) was held in Accra, Ghana. Participants discussed ways to cooperate at the national level to acquire the necessary support they need in order to take ownership of implementation and compliance with the requirements.The event brought together representatives from Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana port and harbour Authority, Ship owners and several ports operators, who have been…
Maritime Security Workshop in Seychelles
Proper implementation of International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s maritime security measures is essential for trade.The Seychelles is the latest country to benefit from training on the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, said the UN body.Participants discussed ways to cooperate at the national level to acquire the necessary support they need in order to take ownership of implementation and compliance with IMO maritime security measures. They also learned how to train other officials with similar responsibilities.The workshop which concluded today in Mahe, Seychelles (26-30 August) brought together Port facility Security Officers (PFSOs) and representatives involved in maritime and port security…
IMO Workshop on Maritime Security in Libya
International Maritime Organization (IMO) maritime security training is underway for Libyan port facility security officers, managers and designated authority officials (18-22 August).According to the UN body, the workshop, delivered in English and in Arabic, aims to assist the Libyan Government in enhanced security risk assessments and controls on maritime transport through its territory.According to a press release, fifteen officers in charge of port security from ports across the country are attending, including five from the national maritime security committee in charge of oversight the implementation of the Code in the country.Participants are being trained on how to perform their duties in line with SOLAS Chapter XI-2 (click for details)…
Kenya Boosts Maritime Security
Proper implementation of International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s maritime security measures is essential for trade.Kenya is the latest country to benefit from training on the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, informed the UN body.A national workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (5-9 August) brought together Port facility security officers (PFSOs) as well as representatives of all structures involved in maritime and port security, including Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Maritime Authority, Customs, Kenya Coast Guard Service, maritime police, and several other port operators.PFSOs…
Workshop on Maritime Security in S.Pacific
International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the South Pacific Community, in collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu, are holding a Regional Maritime Security Workshop in Port Vila, Vanuatu (22-25 July). "Good maritime and port security is the enabler for maritime and economic development through maritime trade. It can be taken for granted when it works, but maintaining good security is essential," said the UN body.The workshop coincides with IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim's visit to Vanuatu, Fiji and Australia - the first time an IMO Secretary General visits the South Pacific.The regional workshop brings together Heads of Designated…
"IMO Joe" Angelo Honored
The International Maritime Prize for 2018 will be awarded to Joseph J. Angelo, a former United States Coast Guard (USCG) and International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) senior executive who participated in International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings for many years, providing leadership on a number of key regulatory developments.The IMO Council, meeting for its 122nd session in London (July 15-19) decided to award the Prize to Mr. Angelo, in recognition…
IMO Condemns Tanker Attacks in Gulf
The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has condemned recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman.The Council of the UN body expressed its concern over the grave danger to life and the serious risks to navigational safety and the environment to which such incidents may give rise.The Council also emphasized the need for flag States and shipowners and operators to review the maritime security plans for their ships and implement necessary measures to address the heighted security risk to ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman.Addressing the IMO Council, Secretary-General Kitack Lim also emphasized his personal condemnation of the attacks…
IMO SecGen Comments on Suspected Tanker Attacks
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has condemned the suspected attacks on two tankers off the coast of Oman that occurred earlier on Thursday, June 13."These suspected attacks, coupled with the attacks in the UAE last month, concern me greatly. IMO has developed a comprehensive regime of regulation through the ISPS Code and the SUA Conventions and Protocols to prevent and respond to unprovoked, unlawful attacks on merchant shipping. The threat to ships and their crews, peaceably going about their business, is intolerable.
Live Security Drill in Mexico
A live security drill at a cruise ship terminal in Mexico has given participants the opportunity to hone their skills and assess where any improvements can be made, said a press release from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).The exercise, including a simulated bomb threat, was part of a workshop on Maritime Security Drills and Exercises, delivered by the Mexican National Maritime Authority (SEMAR) and the organizers of XIII International Forum on Maritime and Port Security (PBIP Forum), in cooperation with IMO, in Cozumel, Mexico (27-30 May) at the Cozumel Cruise terminal.Participants in the drills and workshop included the cruise terminal port facility security officers…
Maritime Security Training at Suriname
Suriname is the latest country to benefit from International Maritime Organization (IMO) maritime security training.Participants at a workshop in Paramaribo, Suriname (7-8 May) took part in table-top contingency planning exercises involving a variety of maritime security issues.The UN boday said that these included threats to cruise ships, border security issues involving ports, airports and land border crossing, as well as potential incidents involving proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and arms and drugs consignments.The main objective of the exercise was to encourage a multi-agency, whole of government approach to maritime and port facility security and related maritime law enforcement issues – with participants working to identify gaps in national procedures or legislation…
Maritime Counter-Terrorism Training in Viet Nam
International Maritime Organization (IMO) is assisting the Government of Viet Nam to implement international counter-terrorism measures involving the maritime sector.The training workshop is part of an on-going project with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which assists States’ capability to implement and enforce maritime safety and security legislation to support countering terrorism, piracy and armed robbery against ships.The exercise took place in Hai Phong, Viet Nam (9-10 January). The programme emphasises and demonstrates the need for cooperation among government departments and agencies. Participants are taking part in a range of evolving scenarios…
Unfair Reporting on Piracy, Says Nigeria
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has called on the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) to ensure fairness and balance in its reportage of piracy issues on Nigeria’s territorial waters.Dakuku regretted what he called the exaggeration of reports on incidences on the country’s waterways by the IMB, a specialised department of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) dedicated to fighting maritime crime and malpractice.The DG noted that the Agency had put mechanisms in place to reduce piracy to the barest minimum. These, he said, include investing in the satellite surveillance system…
Gulf of Guinea Boosts Maritime Security
Maritime security depends on the capacity of national authorities to develop effective port security plans and procedures and the ability to self-audit, says International Maritime Organization (IMO).A regional workshop for participants from a number of countries in the Gulf of Guinea, held in Tema, Ghana (13-16 November) has helped to build national capacity to enhance port security. Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo participated in the workshop.The training focused on how to establish multi-agency port and port facility security and facilitation committees with specific terms of reference…
IMO Trains Libyan Port Security Officers
Libyan port and maritime security officers are receiving training on International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), which sets out preventive security measures to detect and defer threats to ships and port facilities.The participants are in charge of port security throughout the country, and also include members of the national committee in charge of oversight of compliance in Libya, who will be part of a special session dedicated to oversight responsibilities.The training workshop (27-31 October) is focused on equipping the officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to plan and conduct effective self-assessments of compliance with relevant IMO regulations/guidelines.The workshop is being conducted in neighbouring Tunis…
Brexit Shouldn't Mar Prospects of Seafarers: UK Chamber
UK Chamber of Shipping said that no deal could limit the opportunities for UK seafarers. A no-deal Brexit would also potentially inconvenience operators of UK-flagged ships, the UK Chamber says.On Thursday, the UK Government published another 28 technical notices, which advise on how potential disruption from a no-deal exit from the European Union can be minimised. The latest batch includes two important shipping-related notices: one on seafarer certification and one on maritime security.The UK Chamber’s immediate concerns are focused on how seafarer employment would be affected by a no-deal Brexit.The technical notice on seafarer certification identifies the basis for seafarer employment in STCW…
HudsonTrident Announces Updated Facility Security Course
HudsonAnalytix, Inc. announced its maritime security subsidiary, HudsonTrident has updated its Facility Security Officer Course to reflect recent changes in the International Ship and Port Security Code Model Course.The course was reviewed by the U.S. Coast Guard and found to meet the standards of competence provided in 33 CFR 105.205, International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) Part A/2.1.8, ISPS Code Part A/17, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) (2015 Edition).“Our revised course and its review by the U.S.
IMO Trains Honduran Maritime Security Officials
Honduras is hosting a workshop on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation setting out preventive security measures in case of threats to ships and port facilities – the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.The event in Puerto Cortez, Honduras (23-27 July) comes as a follow-up to a 2017 exercise in which the country’s specific technical assistance needs were identified.Designated authority and port facility security officers are improving their knowledge and understanding of how to implement the relevant provisions in the ISPS Code and SOLAS Chapter XI-2.Participants are also reviewing the practical guidance contained in the “Guide to maritime security and the ISPS Code”…