Highlights
-Majority of Indonesia’s 141 ports fail to uphold anti-terrorism measures
-PSA on Syrian ports comes amid a series of terrorism and regional stability concerns
-ISPS Code can help neutralize terror risk abroad for US bound ships, cargo
Over the past month, the United States Coast Guard has issued a Port Security Advisory (PSA) for ports in Indonesia and Syria that are failing to comply with anti-terrorism measures under the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code. Ships that visit these ports must implement additional security measures in order to gain entry into US ports. Failure to comply with the requirements could result in denial of entry or delayed entry into US ports.
A summary of the required additional security measures ships must abide by include:
• Ensuring security guards are positioned at each of the ship’s access points with clear visibility of the ship’s landside and waterside exterior
• Attempting to obtain a Declaration of Security (DOS), which is an agreement between a ship and a port facility on the specific security measures each will undertake
• Recording all of the ship’s security actions in a log and report all security actions to the US Coast Guard captain at a port prior to arriving in the US (Source)
The ISPS system provides an important security framework for managing and assessing potential maritime terrorism risks that can affect international trade.
By highlighting potential port security lapses abroad, the ISPS code can assist foreign governments address and neutralize a terrorism risk that may pose a threat to the US homeland.
Addressing Piracy and Terrorism Concerns
The PSA will take effect on March 11, 2008 for 125 of Indonesia’s 141 international ports. Notably, most of Indonesia’s major international oil and container shipping facilities were exempted from the PSA requirements. However, Koja Container Terminal, part of Indonesia’s largest container terminal at Jakarta Container Port, was not exempt from the PSA. A US Coast Guard liaison is scheduled to visit Jakarta in 2008 to provide assistance for improving the country’s port security.
For Syrian ports, the PSA comes amid several new security measures and sanctions, including the deployment of the USS Ross and the USS Philippine Sea in the eastern Mediterranean just off the coast of Lebanon. While there are no specific threats to ships making calls in Syria, the additional security is a precautionary measure as US authorities allege Syria is connected to international terrorist organizations including Hamas and Hizbollah.
Other countries on the PSA list with ports not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures include Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Mauritania. Additionally, vessels from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar require increased port state control inspections in order to verify the condition of a ship and its equipment, and whether the ship is manned and operated in compliance with International Maritime Organization safety requirements.
Outlook
In 2007, worldwide maritime security questions arose as the number of piracy incidents increased by 10 percent. Although the number of incidents reported in Indonesia has fallen from 121 in 2003 to 43 in 2007, a large majority of its ports are deemed unstable. These ports present a significant concern for the industry as they directly threaten the stability of international trade and the safety of US bound cargo.
Additionally, Syria’s connection to international terror networks increases the risk US bound cargo and ships originating in the Middle East may fall victim to tampering. With most pirate hijackings and incidents occurring while ships are anchored or waiting offshore, maintaining ISPS framework will help foreign governments rectify potential security lapses at vulnerable stages of international merchant shipping.
