IMO ADOPTS COMPREHENSIVE MARITIME SECURITY MEASURES

Because of the worldwide escalation of acts of terrorism, a new comprehensive security regime for international shipping is set to enter into force in July 2004 following the adoption by a week-long Diplomatic Conference of a series of measures to strengthen maritime security and prevent and suppress acts of terrorism against shipping. The conference held at IMO's London headquarters from 09 to 13 December, was of crucial significance not only to the international maritime community but the world community as a whole, given the pivotal role shipping plays in the conduct of world trade. The measures represent the culmination of just over a year's intense work by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and its Intersessional Working Group since the terrorist attack in the United States in September 2001.

The conference adopted a number of amendments to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) the most far-reaching of which enshrines the new International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). The code contains detailed security-related requirements for Governments, port authorities and shipping companies together with a series of guidelines about how to meet these requirements. The conference also adopted a series of resolutions designed to add weight to the amendments, encourage the application of the measures to ships and port facilities not covered by the Code and pave the way for future work on the subject.

PHILIPPINES SET FOR ISPS IMPLEMENTATION

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Oscar M. Sevilla declared that the Philippines is prepared for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code on 1 July 2004. In consonance with this, Memorandum Circulars 193 and 194 have been issued in preparation for the imposition of ship port security plans by July 2004 and the installation of AIS on certain ships by December 2004. Marina also started accrediting maritime training centers/entities to offer courses preparing seafarers to comply with the International Safety of Ports and Ships (ISPS) Code. One of the basic requirements of the ISPS Code is the designation of the Ship Security Officer (SSO) and the Company Security Officer (CSO). The said rule was issued in the conformity with the new Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended and the International Safety of Ports and Ships (ISPS) Code. Marina stresses the importance of the training for seafarers to be continuously employed overseas.