MINISTER PICKERSGILL ADDRESSES 'SECURE PORT' CONFERENCE

Minister Robert Pickersgill in his capacity as the portfolio Minister for Transport and Works, addressed the 'Secure Port Conference' on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 in Miami, USA.

The conference was held against the background of new security measures being asked for by International Maritime Organisation in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) which in turn is aligned with the United States Maritime Transportation Security Act US MTSA. The conference took on added significance when it was highlighted that 95% of Jamaica's foreign trade goes by sea and that the major percentage of that trade and transhipment cargoes go to the United States.

The sensitisation and education processes to meet the new security to meet the new maritime security requirements in Jamaica started in earnest from the middle of 2003 after the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee held their 77th session. Since then there have been a number of formal briefing and training sessions by the Government for the Port Authority, the Maritime Authority, the Caribbean Maritime Institute, the Coast Guard and Marine Police. There has also been active participation in IMO workshops and seminars in the Bahamas and in Paris, France. Other training opportunities have been provided by the IMO, one of the latest such being the Maritime Authority hosting an ISPS seminar/workshop at the Caribbean Maritime Institute in which government and private sector personnel were participants. This was conducted by the America Bureau of Shipping and sponsored by the US Embassy in Kingston.

Under the new security regime, the Government of Jamaica has formally directed that the Port Authority of Jamaica be the 'Designated Authority' and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) to be the 'Administration' consistent with the requirements of the Code.

Jamaica's current status re: the maritime security is that of ongoing work. The Maritime Administration in Jamaica has been seeing to the update of the legislative side of the new requirements. There are ongoing briefings of law enforcement agencies on the new dispensation. With regards to operational matters at the ports, the Port Authority of Jamaica has embarked on a comprehensive programme to improve security. In light of the Authority's commitment to providing the safest cruise and commercial port facilities in the Caribbean, two major objectives have been established. These are (a) To obtain certification of security measures at the ports by US Authorities and (b)To improve the security at the ports so as to increase the marketability of those ports.

The diplomatic conference held in December, 2002 approved a new International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS Code). The Code sets out guidelines on:

1. Port and Ship security plans
2. Port and Ship Security Officers
3. Security Assessment
4. Security levels
5. Responsibilities of contracting governments
6. Declaration of security and
7. Training drills and exercises among other security related issues
   

The objective of the above guidelines are to:

• Establish an international framework between contracting Governments, Government Agencies, Local Administrations and Shipping and Port Industries
• Detect/assess security threats and to take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade
• To provide methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedure levels
• Ensure early and efficient collation and exchange of security related information
• Ensure confidence that adequate and proportionate Maritime security measures are in place
• To establish the respective roles and responsibilities of all the parties concerned at the ntional and international levels for ensuring maritime security.

·In order to achieve stated objectives, the government has set itself a number of specific targets, thus the security system has been designed to do the following:

1. Prevent and detect trafficking in illegal drugs, contraband and illegal weapons and ammunition.
2. Detect Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) explosives.
3. Detect and prevent stowaways
4. Ensure the security and safety of crew passengers and vessels
5. Achieve revenue enhancement/recovery and prevent trade fraud
6. Enhance operational efficiency of the security systems and port operations

The IMO International Ship and Port Facility Code (IMO, ISPS Code) requires certification of all international ports based on audits of specified security standards. To this end the Port Authority of Jamaica has undertaken an ambitious plan to achieve this feat. Preparations are far advanced and government has been proceeding with the following components of the plan in respect of public ports.

• X-ray units for inspection of containers and break bulk cargo
• A system of closed circuit TV Surveillance (CCTV)
• An electronic access control system
• Underwater surveillance cameras
• X-ray Units for hand luggage for cruise ship passengers
• Floating barriers in port basin
• Seaside patrol by Marine Police and Coast Guard
• Implementation of ground transport policy for cruise ship passengers
• Major training and sensitisation programmes for employees and interest groups

On the matter of X-Ray Units the Government has purchased eleven x-ray units - five pallet units to x-ray break bulk cargo and six to examine containers. Five of these units are presently carrying out a pilot project at Port Bustamante and the Port of Montego Bay. Additionally twenty US Customs and Law Enforcement officials who have been employed to operate these machines have arrived in the island. Fourteen specially selected local Customs Officers have completed training and are working on these machines along with the US expatriates.

Other initiatives in place to deal with attempts to meet the demands of the IMO include a CCTV Security Surveillance System, an Electronic Access Control & Badging System inclusive of Underwater and Patrol Boats.