Pacific Ports Warned

Pacific Islands ports dependent on international trade have been warned that international shipping operators are now liable to give them a miss unless they comply with anti-terrorism rules by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

International shipping also has to comply with the rules. Ships that fail to comply by June 1 are liable to be arrested by the security authorities of coastal states or entirely barred to port access.

Apia, Samoa, now angling for status as a trans-shipment port, completed a port security plan last December and is awaiting certification by Samoa's minister for marine.

The three Samoan ships that voyage internationally are also adopting security plans, as has a vessel operated by the Federated States of Micronesia, according to the Pacific Community's Regional Maritime Programme.

The security rules are a consequence of attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001.

Those prompted a diplomatic conference that produced amendments to the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and a new International Ship and Port Security code.

Governments, ship-owners and ports have to comply by July 1, with no extensions or exemptions.

International service ships from then will need a ship security plan and an international ship security certificate.

The owners and captains of ships will want to know that every port their vessels call at have a security plan.

If a "secure" ship goes to an "insecure" port, it will have to be re-inspected to ensure that its security has not been compromised. If a country's port does not accept the rules, many shipping companies may simply decide not to serve them, the Pacific Community's Regional Maritime Prog1ramme says.

"Ships that fail to comply with the provisions can expect to be denied entry to certain ports or detained for long periods of time until local officials have confirmed that they do not represent a threat to a secure port." Shipping companies engaged in international trade need to appoint a company security officer and also a ship security officer for each ship. These two officials have to write a ship security plan, have it approved by the marine administration under which the ship is flagged.

The administration will then issue an international ship security certificate.