Tag: maritime security

ISPS Code requires from a shipping organization to conduct security internal audits in an effort to monitor and assess the level of managed vessels’ compatibility to security regulations and the effectiveness of the implemented Ship Security Plan.

From 1st April 2018, all companies operators and ROs acting o behalf of the Panama Maritime Administration must follow certain procedures to conduct verification audit process. This aims to ensure the correct implementation and certification of the ISPS Code on board Panamanian flagged ships, operating in international waters.

Companies, company security officers (CSO), ship security officers (SSO) and Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) of Panamanian flagged vessels should implement the necessary security measures described in the latest edition of the Best Management Practices before, during and after the transit through High Risk Areas.

Stability and energy security are paramount to economic growth and any attack on a single tanker is an assault on the entire international community, said Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of UAE State and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

Countries like China and Japan, that largely depend on shipping trade in the Strait of Hormuz, should be protecting their own ships on what 'has always been a dangerous journey', said US President Trump in an official statement in the light of an ongoing tension in the Middle East. 

Nine out of the ten fishermen who were kidnapped in Malaysian waters last week are reportedly free, according to data provided by the ReCAAP ISC. The nine men were brought to Talipao for custody and debrief. One of the abducted crew is still missing.

According to the ISPS Code, it is a requirement for all vessels to have a Ship Security Plan (SSP) on board including all protective measures that the crew should apply at each security level. Also, SSP should demonstrate the restricted areas and provide guidelines for an effective implementation of the Code, with Risk Assessment forms and checklists to be used by key personnel during several activities on board.

The Indian Ministry of Defence announced that the Indian Navy deployed two vessels in the Gulf of Oman to secure Indian flagged vessels, following the recent attack on two tankers in the region. The Ministry issued a statement noting that in addition to deploying the two vessels, Chennai and Sunayna, 'aerial surveillance by IN aircraft is also being undertaken in the area.'

On Thursday, June 13, the US Navy released a footage claiming that Iran was the one responsible for the attacks against the two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. US Officials commented that the limpet mine used on a Japanese-owned oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz looks similar with other Iranian mines.

As an act to defeat one of the most challenging dangers of nowadays, IMO, under SOLAS Convention Chapter XI-2, developed the International Ship and Port Facility Code – the ISPS Code, a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.