Willy Eya
30 April 2004
Lagos — A university don, Prof. Detlef Nielson has identified port facility security assessment as the first step towards compliance to international ship and port facility security (ISPS) code.
Such an assessment, he explained involves a review of location, superstructures, facilities and procedures.
He noted that every port facility that intends to handle ships above 500 gt in international traffic will have to comply with the ISPS code.
Speaking at a seminar on "New Global Maritime Security Enhancement Measures: Implications for Dockworkers and Stevedores" Prof Nielson said the security assessment aims to identify weaknesses in the physical structures, personnel protection systems or processes, information programmes or procedures and any other area that might lead to a breach of security.
The second step in achieving compliance with the ISPS code, he said, would be the development of a port facility security plan arguing that it ensures the application of measures designed to protect the port facility and ships, their cargoes and persons on board these ships from the risks of a security incident.
He said the security plan will have to be reviewed and if found satisfactory, approved by the designated national authority in charge of port security.
Prof. Nielson explained that all port facilities will have to appoint one or more port facility security officer (PFSO) who will be tasked to be responsible for the development, implementation, revision and maintenance of the port facility security plan.
The PFSO, he said will have to liaise with the ship security officer of each ship calling at the port facility and may also have to liaise with the company security officer in the shipping company.
On security levels, Prof. Nielson noted that minimum appropriate security measures must be maintained at all times.
He said such measures include random personnel, baggage, material and stores or vehicle screening in addition to the implementation of access and movement control measures.
The university don stated that enhanced protective security measures must be implemented also for the time period when there is deemed to be a heightened risk of a security incident.
Measures under the heightened risk, he explained include increased frequency of screening, more robust monitoring of the port and the more stringent access and movement control measures.
He said the third level was the fact that enhanced protective security measures must be implemented throughout the period when there is to be an imminent risk of a security incident.
The measures here, he said, include 100 per cent screening, increased level of identification checks, temporary suspension of certain port activities and imposing of vessel traffic control measures, restricting access to certain areas and deployment of additional security personnel to certain key infrastructure.
He said the aim of port related security measures is to prevent port access by persons without legitimate reason to be there and to prevent persons with legitimate reasons from gaining illegal access to ships or other restricted areas for the purpose of committing unlawful acts.
Part of the aims of the measures, he said also include the prevention of the introduction of unauthorised dangerous or harmful substances and devices or weapons into the port or ships using the port.
According to him, the measures are also meant to prevent tampering with cargo equipment, containers, utilities, protection systems or procedures as well as preventing of smuggling of contraband, drugs, narcotics, other illegal substances and prohibited materials.
He explained that to enforce the restricted access policy, persons seeking access will have to carry identify documents which must be veritable.
A port authority/operator, he said, will thus have to issue access documents and will have to implement a system which ensures a verification procedure and a return or invalidation in case the member or staff leaves the company.
He said access restriction procedures will also cover temporary personnel, contractors or visitors and will have to deal with cases of stolen, missing or lost documents or cases of misuse of access documents.
Ships, he said, can be expected to rigorously enforce access restrictions to deter unauthorised persons from boarding the ship stressing that it will affect port workers and stevedores who will have to carry proper identification documents.
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