Isps Code and Thw Imo
In the wake of the September 11th attacks in the USA, security not just in aviation but also in all areas of transportation became priority for all local government and International agencies.
The international Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code is a comprehensive security regime for the maritime sector, which was adopted in a resolution on the 12th December 2002 by a Diplomatic Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974. The Code contains to Parts A & B, with A being Mandatory and B Recommendations. Compliance with the ISPS Code became obligatory on July 1st 2004 and contains detailed security requirements for governments, ports, vessel owners / operators and companies (IMO 2002).
As the code was implemented in such as short space of time (18 Months), it is surrounded by a number of controversies. Wwithout any doubt the maritime security legislative process – within IMO – has been dominated by the US (US Maritime Administration Report, 2004). In addition, the speed imposed on the consultation procedures, against IMO standards, would indicate a politically motivated alliance, putting the much-appreciated technical character of the UN organization under controversy ( Alexandros M et al…2010).
On Paper, the ISPS is the same for all contracting governments; however, because it is a risked-based security process one size does not fit all (Gaouette M , Carver K 2010) The ISPS code is applicable to all so called SOLAS vessels which are over 500gross tons (IMO 2001). However it does not apply to small boats that could be used as weapons against bigger vessels. Michael Chertoff of U.S homeland security mentioned 4 major concerns on the threat of 17 million ‘small boats’. One of the concerns was “boats being used as launching pads for an attack on the maritime industry or on critical infrastructure”. The ISPS code does not apply in this instance. Piracy has become one of the major
The international Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code is a comprehensive security regime for the maritime sector, which was adopted in a resolution on the 12th December 2002 by a Diplomatic Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974. The Code contains to Parts A & B, with A being Mandatory and B Recommendations. Compliance with the ISPS Code became obligatory on July 1st 2004 and contains detailed security requirements for governments, ports, vessel owners / operators and companies (IMO 2002).
As the code was implemented in such as short space of time (18 Months), it is surrounded by a number of controversies. Wwithout any doubt the maritime security legislative process – within IMO – has been dominated by the US (US Maritime Administration Report, 2004). In addition, the speed imposed on the consultation procedures, against IMO standards, would indicate a politically motivated alliance, putting the much-appreciated technical character of the UN organization under controversy ( Alexandros M et al…2010).
On Paper, the ISPS is the same for all contracting governments; however, because it is a risked-based security process one size does not fit all (Gaouette M , Carver K 2010) The ISPS code is applicable to all so called SOLAS vessels which are over 500gross tons (IMO 2001). However it does not apply to small boats that could be used as weapons against bigger vessels. Michael Chertoff of U.S homeland security mentioned 4 major concerns on the threat of 17 million ‘small boats’. One of the concerns was “boats being used as launching pads for an attack on the maritime industry or on critical infrastructure”. The ISPS code does not apply in this instance. Piracy has become one of the major