The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) Division of Maritime Affairs has completed an International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Awareness Training.
This training targeted Boat owners/Boat masters and their responsibilities as an operator within a port of call under the (ISPS Code). The (ISPS Code) is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities, developed in response to the perceived threats to ships and port facilities in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
More specifically, the purpose of the code is to provide a standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling Governments to offset changes in threat levels and assessing vulnerabilities for ships and port facilities through the determination of appropriate security levels and corresponding security measures.
During the workshop participants were introduced to the background of the Code, what it means for them as operators within the port and the measures which they should implement in adhering to the standards of the Code. The training was facilitated by Mr. Christopher Alexander, Director of the Maritime Division and Inspector Nadine George of the Police Marine Unit. Mr. Alexander explained that “SLASPA recognizes the importance for persons operating within our ports to comply with the highest International standards in keeping with the conventions that Saint Lucia has signed unto. Additionally, the persons trained will be better able to operate in the vicinity of cruise vessels berthed at all of the Nation’s Ports.”
The training and certification exercise will become a mandatory requirement in order to obtain a Boatmaster’s License.
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