Ports Staff Take ISPS Exercise
With the first anniversary of the introduction of the ISPS Code now seeming to be a distant memory, many ship managers and port facility operators are tending to overlook their obligation to undertake security exercises on a calendar year basis. This means that at the latest,every ISPS compliant ship and port facility must have undertaken a security drill by 31 December 2005.
In Europe, this is a legal obligation under EU Regulation 725. The Code allows for some flexibility in what constitutes an exercise, but it has been generally accepted that an exercise must test significant parts of the security plan. The Port of Liverpool Police, in association with Lairdside Maritime Centre, recently carried out a major desktop exercise to meet the Port of Liverpool’s obligations under the ISPS Code. Attended by port facility staff from Liverpool, Cardiff, Tilbury and Medway, five syndicate groups stepped through a demanding seven phase exercise.
Each syndicate group had access to Merseyside Special Branch officers as well as facilitators from the Port of Liverpool Police and Lairdside Maritime Centre. It was essential that delegates were pressured in undertaking intelligence assessments and implementing reactive solutions, consequently each phase was tightly time managed.
Observed by TRANSEC and the MCA, both delegates and facilitators hailed the day a resounding success. At the end of the exercise typical delegate comments included, ‘A well produced, concise and professional exercise’, ‘A good mix of people’, ‘Particularly interesting having Special Branch personnel present’, and ‘A bit of a wake up call’. Demonstrating the importance which senior management place on the application of ISPS Measures and the continual training regime, Director of Liverpool, Alec Don addressed the attendees at the opening of the exercise and stressed his commitment to the day. This was adequately demonstrated when, unplanned, he joined a syndicate group and worked with them. Committed to improving security measures in the maritime industry, Lairdside Maritime Centre and the Port of Liverpool Police have now produced a set of ‘Ready to Go’ exercises which are being made available to ports and ship operators to meet their exercise obligations. The exercise themes and materials will be adapted to meet a user’s specific environment and location. The purpose is to present attendees with a demanding but realistic set of security considerations where their plans and the ISPS Code are tested to the full. Exercises can be conducted at a client’s premises or at the Centres’ conference facility.
It has come as no surprise that Landside Maritime Centre has received considerable interest in the services offered and are currently working with a number of port operators and shipping managers in assisting them in meeting their legal obligations by the end of the year. In addition to its approved PFSO and SSO courses, the centre operates a number of short ISPS courses to meet the training needs of ships’ crews and port personnel.
MJ Information No: 21148
