KENYA SOCIALIST DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (KSDA)

June 8th 2004

                                                                                                                                         

Date: 24th May, 2004 

INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT SECURITY (ISPS) CODE 

The ISPS Code is a mandatory requirement that has been developed under the safety of life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. 

It requires that all ports involved in international trade implement some security measurers to guard themselves against both international and local terrorism. 

In the year 2002 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) gave her 158 member states 18 months to meet the ISPS guidelines. It is therefore, a disgrace to see the port of Mombasa being blacklisted for failure to meet the July 1st 2004 deadline. 

Now that the government of Kenya has only 38 days to implement the requirements, we humbly ask the head of state His Excellence President Mwai Kibaki to Urgently issue a Presidential decree unto this matter. 

It gives great joy to say that Mombasa Port is among the 6,000 International Ports, which have demonstrated that they are in line with ISPS requirements. 

Up to-date ISPS certificates have been issued to 2,500 ports in 9 IMO member states.  

30,000 ships covered by the code have so far gained certification while 6,800 ships from 14 IMO member states have security plans approved or ISPS certificates issued. 

We are asking for the presidential decree because the IMO has warned that the ISPS deadline will not be extended. The only way forward is to enact the Merchant Shipping Bill 2003 in order to put in place a legal framework to enable the implementation of the ISPS Code. Maritime security threats that affect every port and every ocean-going vessel are pilferage and theft, illicit drugs smuggling, illegal migrants, stowaways, piracy and armed robbery against ships, sabotage and terrorism.  

 

Andrew Mwangura

Programs Coordinator

Seafarers Assistance Program

 

Published by Kenya Socialist Democratic Alliance (KSDA)
email: harakatips@hotmail.com

Home