Ports meet stakeholders over security compliance

Confidence that deadline will be met ALAN PEAT THE SIGNS are that SA ports will be International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) compliant by the due date of July 1, according to Dave Rennie, CEO of United Africa Container Line (UACL) and chairman of the Container Liner Operators Forum (Clof). “They (government and port authorities) appear to be doing all the right things,” he said, “and I don’t have any concern re the SA ports.” The National Department of Transport (NDoT) is the lead authority in this security tightening exercise. It has put together the domestic regulations related to ISPS, and is the authority which issues the ports with their licences to operate. “The regulations,” said Rennie, “are in draft format and will be gazetted shortly. “So the legislation is OK.” The ports, meantime, have all been assessed for risks and the report accepted - and the authorities are busy finalising the plans and implementing the physical requirements for ISPS. The necessary safety inspectors have been appointed, and staff training is under way. Meetings of all the stakeholders have also been organised at all the ports - starting last Friday and extending over the next few weeks. “We’ll get an update on the progress of ISPS compliance at the meetings,” said Rennie, “but they should all be ready in time.”