Labour dispute compromises Durban’s security compliance

Maydon Wharf access poses problems ALAN PEAT A LABOUR dispute at Maydon Wharf in the Port of Durban has effectively contravened the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code, according to Howard Jackson-Moss, director of Sturrocks Shipping and chairman of the Association of Ship Agents and Brokers of SA (Asabosa). This, in turn, could see ships having called at the wharf facing adverse security attention if they then call at a US port. It was a matter of casual labour airing their grievances, Jackson-Moss added. “But,” he told FTW, “they took these grievances onto the wharf, challenged those still working - ultimately forcing a number to stop work, and having a couple of ships raise their gangways. “While labour is entitled to air its complaints, they should only do this outside the security area on the wharf.” But security here has been a problem since the beginning of ISPS, Jackson-Moss added, because of the number of access points to Maydon Wharf. The area is not fenced off, and security has not been imposed, except for booms at the main entrances. “So security is an issue although it is being addressed.” The problem for the ships moored at the wharf at the time of the labour dispute is that, under ISPS, they must report any security incidents at any of the previous 10 ports of call. As such, Maydon Wharf would be considered not to be ISPS-compliant, and any call at a US port would see action taken to ensure the security of the ship and its cargo before discharge. In its ultimate form, the ISPS code could demand that the ship be denied access to a US harbour.