FOURTEEN LOCAL port facilities have been certified under the International Ships and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of International Maritime Organisation, which means they have satisfied stipulations under the code and have the necessary security systems and procedures in place to continue trading with major partners.
The port facilities are APM Terminals (Jamaica) Limited; Kingston Wharves Limited; JAMALCO Clarendon Alumina Works Rocky Point Port; Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company Port Rhoades; Jamaica Livestock Association Limited; Glencore Alumina (Jamaica) Limited Port Esquivel; Port of Montego Bay; Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Pier; Reynolds Pier; Boundbrook Wharf; Shell Company (W.I.) Limited; Alumina Partners of Jamaica Alpart Port Kaiser; Antilles Chemical Company; and Petrojam Limited.
The ISPS Code took effect on July 1 and means that ports will be under closer scrutiny as it relates to security and face being black listed in some cases to prevent trading with certain partners. The United States Port and Maritime Security Act now requires ports of countries trading with the U.S. to be certified and audited in accordance with specified security standards as a result of increased global attention to security at seaports and airports in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
The Government, at a function organised by the Port Authority of Jamaica in Kingston recently, issued the certificates of Compliance. Ambassador to the United States, Sue Cobb, was the main speaker.
In presenting the certificates, Transport and Works Minister Robert Pickersgill noted the significance of certification and lauded the local effort to ensure readiness. He congratulated the Port Authority of Jamaica for "its ongoing programme to restructure the security systems" in the ports of Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and other smaller ports around the island.
Only a few months ago, the Prime Minister officially commissioned five VACIS Mobile Cobalt 60 Gamma Ray container inspection systems at the Port of Kingston, which are designed to facilitate the comprehensive inspection of containers and cargo packages to prevent the smuggling of weapons, explosives, drugs and other contraband at the island's major ports. In addition, the Port Authority has installed a Closed-Circuit TV System (CCTV) for round-the-clock surveillance and an Access Control System to electronically control and regulate access to all major ports.
