HK takes measures for new maritime security rules

Security plans for 22 port facilities in Hong Kong and 595 Hong Kong registered ships have so far been approved for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code that comes into effect on July 1.

Hong Kong Deputy Director for Marine Roger Tupper made the remark while addressing the opening of the Hong Kong Air and Port Security Expo Asia 2004 Maritime Security Seminar here Wednesday.

Tupper said: "in Hong Kong there are 31 port facilities under the code. These facilities include the container terminals, oil depots, power stations, cruise and ferry terminals and the Buoys and Anchorages which constitute a single port facility."

So far, he said, Port Facility Security Plan of 22 facilities, including the container terminals in Kwai Chung and the Ocean Terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui, had been approved. Among the 595 Hong Kong registered ships with their security plans approved, 287 had already obtained their International Ship Security Certificates.

He said the department had arranged uploading of the port's security status to the International Maritime Organization website well in advance of the July 1 deadline.

Tupper said Hong Kong was taking positive measures to ensure its full compliance with and commitment to the international code before July 1.

While underlining Hong Kong's full compliance with the Code he reminded delegates that vigilance was required as the threat posed by global terrorists was real.

"We have been reminded of the threat posed to ports and shipping by such groups in attacks on the tanker "Limburg" off the Port of Aden, the attack in the extremely well protected port of Ashdod in Israel and the more recent strike at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. Sadly yet again at the weekend we saw another savage outrage at Khobar."

He said the Marine Department had developed a database system for maintaining the continuous synopsis records of Hong Kong registered ships required under the code and those were being provided to ship owners on request.

Source: Xinhua