March 5 deadline for response
ALAN PEAT
THE SECURITY system for the SA port network is on track, although much work still has to be done before the implementation of the international ship and port security (ISPS) code on July 1, according to port user Joost Boomstra, single buoy mooring (SBM) manager for Sapref.
The ISPS code has been introduced by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to cut down on world terrorism and will become mandatory for all ships above 500 gross tonnes at all ports worldwide from that deadline date.
At a recent meeting between SA port users and the Department of Transport, the reports from the various security work groups were tabled, along with copies of the Government Gazette of February 9.
This latter, Boomstra told FTW, containing the draft legislation on ISPS for SA.
“We have until March 5 to respond to this draft,” he said.
“As port operators, we have to see what needs to be done to comply with these regulations.”
This, Boomstra added, will mean meetings involving port users, the National Ports Authority (NPA) and SA Port Operations (Sapo) over the next few weeks, as the implications of the regulations are ironed out.
While the IMO code lays down the minimum that needs to be complied with - basically the demand that ports fence entire perimeters and secure entry points to keep out anyone without a legitimate reason to be in the port - the SA government has added its own interpretations of what needs to be done to make the regulations cover the individualities of the local harbour installations.
The main concern, Boomstra added, is whether the new regulations will work well in practice - because any shortfall will mean that SA ports will not get the ISPS stamp of approval, and ships from SA ports will not be cleared to enter other ports in the ISPS network.
