The next target..

He adds that ships could also be used by terrorists as delivery systems or even sunk in main river channels. “You could imagine somewhere like the river leading up to the port of Houston. If someone sunk a large vessel within that channel, considering that I believe 7080% of US petroleum goes up that river it would cause an absolutely horrendous economic impact.” As a result of this perceived threat the IMO drew up the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code, but is enough being done to prevent terrorists striking the maritime sector?

Giles Noakes from Jigsaw Business for Maritime Security doesn’t think so. “National security is the duty of the Government and Government has committed the industry, through the IMO, to ISPS implementation. This implementation is however both seriously flawed and the processes being introduced weak and lacking in real deterrents.” He argues that the ISPS Code doesn’t address what he sees as the principle issue – security surrounding the stuffing of containers at the point of loading. It’s here that Giles Noakes believes terrorists could capitalise. “The role of the container in a global supply chain is so great that the chain would likely collapse if used as a delivery means. The inspection backlash – and a traumatised public would demand nothing less than a physical inspection of each and every container – would bring trade to a halt.”

The IMO doesn’t appear to share these concerns about the ISPS Code. The regulations came into force on 1st July 2004, when 69% of declared port facilities had their security plans approved.

Within a month that figure had risen to almost 90%.

Equally, the statistics on the International Ship Security Certificates indicate that more than 90% of vessels included in the regulations have complied. Progress has been slow however in Africa, parts of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

The IMO has recognised that there are financial factors at play here and continues to train people in developing regions as part of its 2.5 million dollar Global Programme on Maritime and Port Security.

Neil Fisher thinks that noncompliance could be costly for everyone. “Worldwide the ISPS Code will lead to a two tier system where there will be popular and non-popular ports.

Some will have implemented all security issues meaning they will be visited by all the worldwide shipping companies – non ISPS compliance will lead to some ports becoming ‘banned’ to certain shipping organisations. This in turn will therefore potentially lead to a slowdown in global trade.”

There is also perhaps a more dangerous consequence of noncompliance. David Wilson-LeMoine quotes Jeff High from the US Coastguard as having said the only way you could make a port secure is to coat it in concrete and close it down.

“You cannot make an area secure. You make it as difficult as possible for a terrorist to actually gain access and eventually what you’re doing is pushing the problem away to a less secure port.”

Michael Costain is Event Director of the Airport, Port & Terminal Security Show (APTS) taking place at London’s Olympia from the 10th – 11th November 2004. For further information visit the APTS website at www. apts-expo. com