ICS warns industry on ISPS Code

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has issued a stark reminder to shipping companies about the need to comply with the IMO ISPS Code, and has published a simple checklist of actions that must be taken before the July 2004 deadline.

“In general the shipping industry is well aware of its obligations under ISPS,” the ICS said. “However, anecdotal evidence about the number of Ship Security Plans so far submitted suggests that a significant number of companies are not yet fully compliant. ICS believes that in many cases this may be due to procedural difficulties ? e.g. companies awaiting instructions from their flag states regarding the process to be followed in order to obtain an International Ship Security Certificate.” The ICS is concerned there may be other companies whose compliance is less well advanced than it should be at this stage. To help any operators that may still not be fully conversant with the ISPS Code ICS has therefore developed a simple checklist of actions to be taken before July 2004.

ICS Secretary General Chris Horrocks explained: “If shipping companies have not yet submitted their ship security plans for approval by their flag states or Recognised Security Organisations they need to do so as a matter of urgency. Plans should be submitted regardless of whether the flag state has issued procedures for their approval. We are now less than four months from the deadline, and time is running out fast.”

“Ships which are not in full compliance with the Code by 1 July 2004 can expect little sympathy from port state control officers. On the contrary, they can look forward to serious delay, the possible imposition of legal penalties and even the denial of entry to certain ports. So the time to act is now.”