'It is only a matter of time before a serious incident takes place because seafarers are too busy checking ID cards, ' says Chawla. 'We have to change thinking to the ports being the first line of defence instead and encourage the monitoring of problematic ports.' One delegate raised the interesting point of whether the ISPS Code covered ships in dry dock. As dry docking facilities are often located outside the usual port perimeter and with contractors coming and going all the time, do they not pose an even easier target for terrorists than ships in port?

Shipping compliance was another hot topic with Per Christensen of Hudson Marine Management looking at whether the use of consultants is the same as buying off the shelf.

According to Christensen there are pros and cons to both approaches. 'The use of a consultant can leave those people actually using the system cold to the system as they are less involved in its development than they would be in a do-it-yourself approach, ' he said. However, he believes that only a specialist consultant can competently handle the security assessments required prior to entry into a port. Feedback from the audience suggested that the final decision depends on the size of the firm, with a number of delegates citing difficulty in tracking down a consultant that offered all the services they require.

Meanwhile, in the marine consultants and surveyors forum delegates were treated to a lively and entertaining mock mediation of a professional negligence dispute involving a tank spill.

The mediation followed a dispute between Tony's Tanks Ltd and Ian's Surveys Ltd. A tank, owned by Tony, played by Tony Payne of ITIM, and inspected by Ian, played by Ian Biles of Maritime Services Ltd, had sprung a leak while full of oil. Tony, out of pocket to the tune of £450,000 for repairs, clean up costs and lost contracts, was now pursuing a claim against Ian for costs.

As well as providing delegates with some light relief after a long day, it also gave surveyors and consultants an entertaining and valuable insight into how the mediation process works.

MJ Information No: 19902