Port state control body Paris MOU to issue warning letters to non-security-compliant ships

Port state control body Paris MOU to issue warning letters to non-security-compliant ships    The “Paris Memorandum Of Understanding,” the inter-government body on vessel safety, said that, from Jan. 1, ships visiting ports in the its region will be issued with an official letter of warning if the international ship security certificate is not available on board. The region covered by the “Paris MOU” is 13 European Union countries and Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation and Slovenia.
   This letter will inform the captain that the ship needs to comply before July 1, and that, apart from certification, a security system has to be implemented on board.
   The effective date of the International Maritime Organization’s International Ship and Port Facility Security code and amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, requiring vessel operators to develop and implement compliant vessel security plans, is July 1.
   “The introduction of the international code for the security of ships and port facilities will be an important step towards a more secure shipping environment,” said Alan Cubbin, chairman of the Paris MOU committee. “Our committee will decide in May on a focussed harmonized action plan to inspect all ships subject to the code starting July 1,” he added.
   A draft guideline of the code has been submitted to the International Maritime Organization for discussion in March.
   The inter-government group said that aspects considered by port state control officers will include:
   * Valid international ship security certificate on board;
   * Control of access to the vessel;
   * Control of access to sensitive areas of the ship;
   * The ship is operating at the same, or a higher, security level as the port facility;
   * Records are held of the last 10 ship-to-port, or ship-to-ship interfaces;
   * Security drills and exercises have been carried out at required intervals, taking account of crew changes
   * The master and ship’s personnel appear to be familiar with essential ship security procedures;
   * Key members of the ship’s personnel are able to communicate effectively;
   * A subsequent interim international ship security certificate has been issued to avoid full compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security code;
   * And the ship identification number is permanently marked in a visible place.
   If after July 1, deficiencies are recorded against any of these items, action may be taken by the port state control officer or the competent security authority.