According to IMO, its work to improve security standards at international ports has been given a lift courtesy of a £700,000 funding contribution from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
As explained, the funding will be targeted at port security activities across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle-East and the Asia-Pacific region to enhance the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code which provides the framework for a global security regime for international shipping and ports.
The safety and security of the maritime trade routes which run through these regions is vital as they are pivotal to the economic prosperity of the Global South.
As informed, the financial donation has been made through IMO’s International Maritime Security Trust Fund (IMST). It follows a previous contribution from the United Kingdom in 2014 for maritime security work.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim was presented with the funding contribution on 13 September at IMO Headquarters by John Connell, Deputy Director, Maritime Security Operations at the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport.
To remind, the main objectives of the ISPS Code include:
- establishment of an international framework that fosters cooperation between Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries, in assessing and detecting potential security threats to ships or port facilities used for international trade, so as to implement preventive security measures against such threats
- determining the respective roles and responsibilities of all parties concerned with safeguarding maritime security in ports and on board ships, at the national, regional and international levels;
- to ensure that there is early and efficient collation and exchange of maritime security-related information, at national, regional and international levels;
- to provide a methodology for ship and port security assessments, which facilitates the development of ship, company and port facility security plans and procedures, which must be utilised to respond to ships’ or ports’ varying security levels; and
- to ensure that adequate and proportionate maritime security measures are in place on board ships and in ports.
