The ISPS Code impact and expectations

Last year saw the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Now, as the industry seeks clarification aimed at harmonising the enforcement of the Code provisions on ships and at port facilities, a close eye is being kept on traditional maritime criminal activities to gauge the tangible effectiveness of the Code. Thomas Timlen, international affairs liaison, BIMCO, reports.

J ust prior to the implementation date of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) on 1 July 2004, the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos encouraged SOLAS contracting states to take a pragmatic approach regarding the enforcement of the Code’s provisions. Judging from information received from BIMCO members, it is clear that in the majority of cases this plea was heeded.