BIMCO reports growing vessel compliance with ISPS code

BIMCO reports growing vessel compliance with ISPS code       About 74 percent of the ships operated by Baltic and International Maritime Council members have had their ship security plans approved b maritime administrations or recognized security organizations, a survey by the Denmark-based international shipping association found.
   BIMCO said 145 of its shipowner members responded to its International Ship and Port Facility Security code implementation survey, providing the status for 2,622 ships that must comply with the ISPS Code by July 1.
   These BIMCO members also reported that only 488 international ship security certificates have been issued for these ships, or 19 percent of the total. The intention of the security certificate is a more advanced stage of compliance than the approval of the ship security plan.
   However, most respondents mentioned that the international ship security certificate audits have been scheduled to take place during April and May.
   “For many this was the earliest possible time to schedule such audits as many maritime administrations require that the ship security plan must be operational on board for one to two months before the international ship security certificate audit can be conducted,” BIMCO said.
   BIMCO will submit this information to the International Maritime Organization, as requested by IMO secretary general Efthimios Mitropoulos. The IMO has asked for monthly updates regarding progress relating to ISPS code compliance.
   BIMCO will also inform the IMO of commentary provided by members describing their experiences in seeking ISPS code compliance for their ships.