|
As diplomats from 108 countries made
their way home after the historic
meeting at the International
Maritime Organisation in London
earlier this month, it soon became
evident the new rules the meeting
had just adopted to regulate
maritime security and safety would
bring about one of the most
significant structural changes ever
seen by the industry.
The new security order affecting
ships would, for instance, require
more than 25,000 ships, owned by
about 3,500 companies, to be
inspected and assessed and their
security plans certified by a
recognized security organization.
Under the recently adopted
International Ship and Port Facility
Security Code, the ships have 18
months to do so comply with the new
security order.
In addition, all ships must now have
a security officer on board though
this is not clear whether it could
be delegated to one of the existing
crew member, or the function must be
performed by a separate individual.
The new rules will come into force
when member countries amend the
Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS)
Chapter V demand that, no later than
the first safety equipment survey
after July 1, 2004, or by December
31, 2004, every ship of over 300
gross tonnage requires Automatic
Ship Identification system.
The task of endorsing or certifying
the security plans - which the new
rules say shall be vested in
recognized security organization -
is still not clear. It could fall
with the national shipping
administrations or coast guard
agencies, or may even be delegated
to class society.
All ships will also need to show
identification number on the hull
and provide onboard records of the
last 10 ports of call and these
ports must be on an IMO-administered
"white list" that will be issued
under the Port Security Code.
Under the Code, national
administrations must submit their
lists (security approved ports) to
the IMO for distribution by July 1,
2004.
Any call the ship makes to a port
not in the IMO-administered white
list would deny the vessel security
approval. |
