|
Discussion on issues relating to the need for enhanced global maritime
security will take the centre-stage at an international maritime and
logistic conference that opens in Kuala Lumpur today.
The Washington-based World Shipping Council (WSC) will give an update an
assessment on the various recent US-led and multilateral global maritime
security initiatives, including the Container Security Initiative (CSI) that
requires major trading countries with US to station US Customs officials at
the local ports.
Under the CSI agreement signed between US and Malaysia, the movement of
US-bound containers from two ports, namely Port Klang and Port of Tanjung
Pelepas, are now examined by the US Customs officials working together with
their local counterparts.
The position paper, to be presented by the WSC vice president, Mr Lars Kjaer
at the 3rd Asia Maritime & Logistics Conference 2004, will highlight the
response from the international shipping community and included the positive
benefits of the emergence of a secured trading regime.
Though the WSC has acknowledged the need for greater maritime security
measures, it cautions the implementation of the measure must consider the
commercial consequences, such as the impact of stopping a vessel in the mid
sea or requiring the vessel to divert to a nearest port to undergo security
checks.
The session on the maritime security, which will be chaired by the Director
of Marine Department Peninsular Malaysia, Raja Datuk Malik Saripulazan
Kamaruzaman, will also hear of yet another new security being studied by the
US.
This will involve a presentation from a company appointed by the US Homeland
Security to look in the security threat posed by the lack of transparency in
ownership of vessels.
According to the Washington-based Channel Logistics Inc., there is lack
clear international standards for eligibility to register ships and lack of
oversight in obtaining beneficial ownership/ control information by certain
flag states and open registries.
Largely as a tax avoidance measure and also to avoid higher manning costs
(as a result of specific crewing requirements imposed by some developed
countries), several shipowners resort to registering their ships in states
which are called flags of convenience, or in others such as open registries.
There is a veil of secrecy in the vessel ownership, a loop hole which is
known to be exploited by terrorist organization.
Capt Jatin S Bains of Channel Logistics, who travels to Kuala Lumpur for the
conference feels the prevailing system is fragmented, diverse, complex and
convoluted ownership layers provide for potential terrorists to avoid
ownership accountability
Self protection measures by governments that may be considered intrusive and
disruptive, he says.
Capt Bains says lack of ownership transparency could lead governments to
treat anonymous ownership vessels with suspicion, targeting entire flags,
restricting access to ports, profiling and investigative activities by law
enforcement among other remedies.
Channel logistics has received grants from the US Transport Security
Administration to develop identification technologies and or methodologies
that will reveal the true flag states, or port states.
The identification of the person or entity actually controlling the vessel
is essential in determining if a it may be engaged in facilitating or
financing terrorist activities.
This vital information would prevent intentional disruption to the maritime
transportation system and national economy and protect the free flow of
goods and services through U.S. ports. PortsWorld
The world's shipowners and maritime unions have united to write an open
letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell expressing the shipping industry's
concerns over the denial of US shore leave to seafarers in conjunction with
the World Maritime Day last week.
Maritime security was adopted as the theme of this World Maritime Day and in
an unusual co-operative venture, the members of the Round Table of shipping
organisations, BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping and
International Shipping Federation, Intercargo and Intertanko aligned with
the International Transport Workers' Federation in urging governments not to
prevent seafarers from enjoying their entitlement to shore leave.
ITF general secretary, David Cockroft, said: "On World Maritime Day we are
all joining to back the basic rights of those who work at sea and to remind
the US and other governments that enhanced security will be achieved by
co-operation not confrontation."
ICS/ISF secretary general Chris Horrocks added: "We are all committed to
improving security, as demonstrated by the implementation of the ISPS Code,
but we want to remind governments - especially the US - that this is best
achieved by working together, not by treating visiting seafarers as
potential terrorists."
Meanwhile, in his message on occasion of the World Maritime Day, the
secretary-general of the IMO, Efthimios Mitropoulos, while praising the
rapid work done in the maritime community to progress and implement the
International Ship and Port Facility Security Code has called for balance,
between the need to implement the new security regime strictly and to
facilitate global trade.
Balance was also needed, said Mr Mitropoulos between the need to tighten
security precautions against terrorists who might pose as seafarers, "the
rights of seafarers themselves", and the "traditional and legally enshrined
rights of ships to enjoy freedom of navigation on the high seas."
Meanwhile, US, which has been at the forefront of global maritime security
initiatives, will hold a meeting in Kuala Lumpur later this with the
littoral states of the Strait of Malacca to consider further measures to
enhance security and safety in the strait. |
