IMO reports late compliance of ports with ISPS code

IMO reports late compliance of ports with ISPS code    The International Maritime Organization said today that 89.5 percent of more than 9,000 declared port facilities now have their port facility security plans approved under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which officially became compulsory on July 1.
   The figure, compiled from reports received from governments, “shows considerable improvement from the 69 percent reported on the July 1, 2004 entry-into-force date of the new regulatory regime,” the London-based agency said.
   The IMO also reported that there remain “regional pockets” in which compliance has lagged behind.
   “The statistics suggest Africa is falling behind other continents in complying with the new regulations, with just over half of the 30 countries in Africa to which the code applies reporting approved port security measures,” the IMO said. “Countries in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have also been slow to implement the measures.”
   Information available from industry sources indicates that the compliance rate for ships is now “well beyond the 90 percent mark,” the IMO said. This compares with the 86 percent of approved ship security plans reported on July 1.