IMO: Ports lag far behind ships in ISPS Code compliance

IMO: Ports lag far behind ships in ISPS Code compliance    The International Maritime Organization said 'the status of compliance by port facilities' in meeting requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has not yet reached a satisfactory level, despite repeated calls to governments to intensify their efforts.'
   In contrast, 'most of the ships liable to the code will meet the July 1 target compliance date,' said Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary-general of the IMO.
   'Unless prompt action is taken urgently by all parties concerned, we may live to regret any delay in acting, as we should have done within the 18-month period since the IMO security measures were adopted by the 2002 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Conference,' Mitropoulos said in a statement.
   Ten days before the July deadline, 39 governments had responded to the IMO's most recent ISPS Code compliance survey, representing 83.6 percent of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage and 67.4 percent by number of ships.
   On Monday, out of 21,283 ships liable to the Code, 16,676 had submitted ship security plans. The governments had issued 7,015 International Ship Security Certificates (ISSCs), for a total of 33 percent, up from 28.7 percent on June 16.
   Also Monday, out of 6,582 port facilities liable to the Code, 2,244 had submitted port facility security plans. Only 1,065 had their plans approved, for a total of 16.2 percent, up from 10.8 percent on June 16.
   The IMO also provided the latest compliance data from six non-governmental organizations:
   The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) said that as of June 11, out of 15,049 ships liable to the Code, 11,972 had submitted ship security plans, and that 6,300 ISSCs had been issued, or 41.9 percent.
   The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) said that as of June 16, out of 916 ships liable to the code, 769 had submitted ship security plans, and 513 ISSCs had been issued, or 56 percent.
   The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) said that, also as of June 16, out of 2,136 ships liable to the Code, 2,070 had submitted ship security plans and 1,205 ISSCs had been issued, or 56 percent.
   The International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA) said that out of 429 ships liable to the code, 420 had submitted ship security plans and 305 ISSCs had been issued, for 71.1 percent, as of June 16.
   The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) said that out of 118 ships, 113 had submitted ship security plans and 78 ISSCs had been issued, for 66.1 percent, as of June 16.
   The Baltic and International Maritime Council said that out of 2,622 ships liable to the code, 2,189 had submitted ship security plans and 488 ISSCs had been issued, for 18.6 percent, as of June 11.
   The IMO is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.