Fewer ship detentions by U.S. Coast Guard

Fewer ship detentions by U.S. Coast Guard    The U.S. Coast Guard reported Thursday a fall in the number of actions taken against U.S. and non-U.S. vessels since it started enforcing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code and the Maritime Transportation Security Act July 1.
   The majority of the actions taken by the agency against U.S. vessels and facilities and non-U.S. vessels in six days to July 6 were on July 1, when actions were taken against 31 foreign vessels, 40 U.S. vessels and 19 U.S. port facilities.
   On Tuesday, actions were taken against just two non-U.S. vessels, while there were no actions taken against U.S. vessels or U.S. facilities, the Coast Guard reported.
   From July 1 through July 6, for which data is available, non-U.S. vessels made about 1,600 port calls at U.S. ports. The Coast Guard conducted a total of 442 security examinations, 428 of which were conducted dockside, 14 were conducted at sea. Approximately 1,400 vessels were boarded through a voluntary pre-inspection program in place before July 1, which allowed the Coast Guard to reduce the number of vessels that needed to be boarded in the first week of enforcement.
   The agency said this alleviated the burdens on its boarding teams and allowed “commerce to flow freely through U.S. ports.”
   Of the non-U.S. vessels scheduled to call on U.S. ports over July 1-6, nine were denied entry, 10 were expelled from port and 30 were detained in port or forced to restrict their operations for failing to comply with the new security requirements.
   “Some of these vessels have subsequently taken action to come into compliance,” the Coast Guard said. Twelve vessels still have denial-of-entry or expulsion-from-port orders outstanding and 17 vessels still have detentions or restrictions in place, it added.
   The largest categories of non-U.S. vessels found not in compliance were either vessels of less than 500 gross tons not subject to the International Convention for Safety Of Life At Sea, or bulk carriers. These types of vessels generally have a history of lower compliance with international standards for safety and environmental protection, according to the Coast Guard.