An early start and careful planning result in near 100% ISPS Code certification

Today, International Registries, Inc. (IRI), the Maritime Administrator of the Marshall Islands announced that 98 percent of the Marshall Islands flag ships to which the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is applicable have received approval for their Ship Security Plans (SSPs). The high rate of approved SSPs means that the Marshall Islands fleet is now approaching 100 percent compliance with the ISPS Code and the issuance of International Ship Security Certificates (ISSCs).

“We will be successful in meeting the ISPS Code enforcement date of July 1, 2004 because we made good use of the time available to ensure that our fleet fulfilled its obligations,” says Bill Gallagher, IRI President. “We made an early start in developing the necessary management systems, in communicating relevant requirements to our shipowners, ship managers, masters and Recognized Security Organizations (RSOs), and in having technical assistance arrangements in place. We started planning for the ISPS Code implementation the week after the conclusion of the Diplomatic Conference that developed the Code.”

The Marshall Islands made a conscious decision in 2003 to authorize those IACS members who met the Marshall Islands? strict security criteria to be approved as RSOs and to approve SSPs on behalf of the Administration. This procedure has allowed owners to submit their SSPs directly to the RSOs and hence avoid the duplication of approval by flag and approval by the RSOs (who will not issue the ISSC without reviewing the plan). This has resulted in a reduction of costs and bureaucracy for shipowners and avoidance of bottlenecks as the approval work has been spread over a number of RSOs.