Reward for early ISPS compliance.
MPA to spend $300,000 inrebate on portdues for 2
months.
Wielding both the carrot and the stick, the
Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore said it will spend nearly
$300,000 rewarding ships that have attained early ISPS Code
certification, but warned of the consequences of not meeting the
July 1 deadline.
The MPA said it will offer a 5 per cent rebate on
port dues for a two-month period from May 1 to June 30 for
vessels that can produce a valid International Ship Security
Certificate (ISSC) or statement of compliance with the
International Ship & Port Security (ISPS) Code issued by the
flag state.
It said the move was aimed at encouraging and
rewarding ships that comply with the ISPS Code in advance of the
deadline for compliance.
From July 1, ships calling at Singapore's port
will be subject to control and compliance measures, including
the assessment of information related to ship security, prior to
entering port and ship inspection.
When there are clear grounds for believing that a
vessel is not in compliance with the International Maritime
Organisation's security requirements, 'the ship may be subject
to a more detailed inspection, delay or detention, restriction
of operations or movement in port, or expulsion from the port.'
As such, the MPA warned owners that they risk
disruption to their ships' operations if their vessels are not
certified by the deadline, or if they fail to ensure that their
Ship Security Plans (SSPs) are effectively implemented on
board.
This includes ensuring their crew are conversant
with the SSP and their security duties and are able to perform
satisfactory security drills when required to do so.
Announcing the incentive at the 8th Asean
Maritime Transport Working Group Meeting yesterday, MPA Senior
Director Lee Seng Kong said the scheme 'underscores Singapore's
support for the work of the IMO in enhancing maritime and port
security globally'.
The working group - hosted by Singapore from
2002-2004 - is the main Asean body dealing with maritime issues
and reports directly to the Asean Senior Transport Officials
Meetings (Stom).
An MPA spokesman said the incentive was being
offered to any vessel, irrespective of flag or size and for any
number of port calls during the two-month period. The average
amount of the rebate is $25 per vessel.
'Maritime security is not an issue that any one
nation can address on its own. It requires cooperation and
concerted efforts from countries around the world.'
Amid criticisms from the shipping industry that
Asean has not done enough to tackle security issues in the
region's waters like piracy, Mr Lee said that discussions and
workshops organised under the ambit of Asean 'highlight the
importance for the MPA to work with its maritime counterparts to
put in place the required maritime security regime'.
This week's working group meetings included the
first Asean Forum on IMO Conventions.
The MPA also said Singapore's ships and port
facilities are on track to meet the July 1 ISPS Code deadline,
with all port facilities serving passenger ships and cargo ships
500 gt and above have been issued with Statements of Compliance
of a Port Facility (SoCPF).
As for Singapore-flagged ships, 85 per cent of
the nearly 1,000 vessels that fall under ISPS guidelines had
attained security certificates, submitted their security plans
or had them approved, the MPA said.
Some Singapore port facilities and 30 per cent of
Singapore-flagged ships failed, however, to meet the MPA's
self-imposed early compliance target on April 1.
