The terrorist threat to shipping and ports remains extremely high, in part because port authorities and governments are not implementing new security guidelines quickly enough, maritime experts and officials were told on Wednesday. Tough regulations aimed at improving maritime security were agreed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in December 2002. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code was agreed as a way of improving ship and port security measures and ensuring the two complement each other. However, of the IMO’s 163 member nations only a handful have achieved the new standards and concerns are also growing that ships using flags of convenience may evade the guidelines. Shipping companies are accused of being reluctant to take the lead in instigating the required changes, while governments are failing to allot adequate resources to upgrade port security. Full Story
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