Port Facility Security

EC Adopts Proposal to Implement IMO Agreement on Security

On May 2, the European Commission adopted a Communication on enhancing maritime transport security and made a proposal for a Regulation on enhancing ship and port facility security The Commission's proposal for a Regulation is based on the agreement, reached in the IMO in December 2002, to amend the SOLAS Convention on the Safety of Lives at Sea and the adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The mandatory provisions of the IMO agreement include a requirement for ships to be permanently marked with their identification number, fitted with an automatic identification system (AIS) and a ship security alert system, and to be issued with a continuous synopsis record (CSR). Ship, company, and port facility officers must also be appointed and are responsible for preparing security plans, taking into account the risk assessment. The Commission states in its Communication that it unreservedly supports the IMO initiative and has in fact decided to go further than the IMO agreement in some respects. The Commission made a decision to make mandatory some of the provisions contained in Part B of the code, which were voluntary under the IMO agreement. Their motivation is both to raise the level of security and to avoid differences of interpretation between EU Member States. Therefore, the provisions of the IMO agreement relating to the revision of ship security plans, to port facility security assessment, to the

AON Launches Port Facility Security Toolkit

AON, a global leader in risk management and insurance brokerage, has launched the Port Facility Security Toolkit (PFST) internationally. The Toolkit, which was developed primarily for port authorities around the world will comply with the International Ship and Facility Security Code (ISPS code) regulations. Working together with the Port of Rotterdam, AON’s s system will translate the ISPS code into an efficient, user-friendly

IMO Urges Port ISPS Compliance

The IMO issued a Circular urging port facilities to promptly implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. It notes that port facilities seem to be lagging behind ships in compliance efforts, which raises the prospect of compliant ships not being able to call at port facilities lacking requisite approved security plans without endangering their own security compliance status. MSC Circ. 1106 (HK Law).

Videotel Launches Training Course

Maritime training provider Videotel Marine International has launched Shipboard Security, a distance learning course produced in association with The West of England Ship Owners Insurance Services. Shipboard Security is specially designed for training Ship Security Officers in accordance with the new SOLAS Chapter XI-2 "International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code". "Under the ISPS code every vessel over 500 gt and trading internationally is

Maritime security FAQ

The IMO issued a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding maritime security. Among the FAQ is one asking how to determine whether a port facility is compliant with the ISPS Code. The answer given is that the ISPS Code Database includes a list of “ports including whether they have an approved port facility security plan (PFSP).” Note: I must point out that only a distinct minority of member governments so far have submitted reports to IMO, so the database is incomplete

U.S. Submits to IMO re Maritime Security

The U.S. Coast Guard has submitted, on behalf of the United States Government, recommended measures that it believes should be undertaken internationally to improve maritime security for the purpose of preventing and suppressing acts of terrorism against shipping. The recommended measures include advancing the date by which automatic identification systems must be installed on ships from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2004; requiring the preparation of ship, offshore facility

Blackwater to Create New Maritime Subsidiary

Blackwater unveiled its plans to create a new subsidiary, Blackwater Maritime Security Solutions. Blackwater Maritime Security Solutions (BMSS), in a strategic partnership with the Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS) at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, and other professional maritime organizations and industry leaders will focus on providing world-class tactical maritime security training, professional maritime security services

U.S. Thumps the Table on Nigerian Ship Security

The United States of America government has issued a 90-day ultimatum to Nigeria to improve security in its ports and waterways or face a ban on ships from entering the country. At the opening of a two day General Stakeholders Conference on "Reviving ISPS Code Implementation in Nigeria, Mr. Olugbenga Leke Oyewole, Senior Special Assistant  to the President on Maritime Services, told the Lagos conference that due to measures that were introduced after the September 2011 incident in

USCG Offers MTSA-ISPS Helpdesk

After the tragic events of 9/11, the United States faced the challenging task of creating new rules and policies to protect the homeland. In addition to many other actions, Congress and the Department of Homeland Security responded by passing and implementing the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002. The MTSA is a significant piece of legislation and its regulations affect nearly every member of the maritime community,

Panama Canal Implements New Vessel Tracking System

Beginning April 1, 2004, and to be fully implemented on July 1, 2004, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) will begin using a new system to send and receive data to and from vessels planning to transit the Canal. Called the Automated Data Collection System (ADCS), the new system will eliminate the current process of data collection via paper, substituting it with an electronic exchange of information between the ACP and its customers.