Singapore is taking tough measures to prevent terrorist attacks on ships without hampering trade. In his opening speech at a recent maritime security seminar, the Senior Director of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Lee Seng Kong, stated that "the maritime security measures adopted by the IMO are necessary to further safeguard the world maritime trade from the threat of terrorist attacks."

The focal point of some 400 shipping lines, Singapore is the world’s busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage. The economic consequences of an attack could be huge.

The vital importance of port and maritime security in today’s world of terrorist threat and economic uncertainty was powerfully underlined by Senior Director Lee Seng Kong at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s recent international conference on the subject.

The discovery in Singapore last year of a terrorist network called Jemaah Islamiyah, a group with reputed links to Al-Qaeda, means that this threat is very real. For this very reason Singapore, in June last year, became the first Asian nation to join the US Container Security Initiative (CSI). Under its agreement with the US Customs Service, Singapore will work with US Customs to establish a pilot CSI in port. Its endorsement of the US move thus allows joint screening of containers bound for the US at its terminals.

Swift process sought
Speed is essential here. Security measures should not slow down trade, since this is exactly what the terrorists, who thrive in chaos, want. As Lee said, this would seriously affect the "wheels of international commerce".

According to Lee, one of the main challenges is to develop measures that apply worldwide yet do not hamper trade. A trade standstill would mean that the terrorists had won without having to do anything else.

Backing an uphill task
Singapore's MPA has given wholehearted backing to the IMO's efforts to forge a united front against the dangers posed to maritime security. The IMO, however, faces an uphill task. It not only has to get its members to agree to specific proposals, it has to get the proposals implemented through each country's various government, security and intelligence agencies.

Lee explains, "Maritime security must become as much an integral part of the shipping community as safety has been. To successfully accomplish this objective and firmly establish maritime security in the community, we must work closely together. We must not only ensure that we implement the maritime security measures agreed upon at the diplomatic conference in December last year, but also ensure that they are clearly understood and actions taken to ensure that maritime security can be firmly established."

Recognised security organisations
The MPA has, to date, provisionally appointed five classifications societies as Recognised Security Organisations (RSOs), including DNV. The RSOs are authorised to act on MPA's behalf to review and approve Ship

Security Plans in accordance with Chapter XI-2 of SOLAS and the ISPS Code. Says Lee, "RSOs appointed must have the competencies needed for ship security certification. This means that they must have trained staff, procedures and the organisation to enable them to review and approve the ship security plan, assess and verify the ship security system and the competencies of the Ship Security Officer and the Company Security Officer, and issue the International Ship Security Certificate on behalf of the Administration.

"The processes and documentation required under the ISPS Code have to be in place by 1 July 2004. If shipowners and operators do not have them in place by then, they risk the chance of disruption to their operations," says Lee. "Like the caution I delivered when I spoke on the International Safety Management Code some years back, I am repeating the same caution: owners and operators must ensure that all maritime security measures are in place by the deadline. Maritime security is here to stay and we all have a part to play," he concludes.