Maritime security training has taken place in Nouadhibou, Mauritania (25-29 June). The IMO workshop reinforces and improves existing security measures in the country by training port security officials to design and conduct drills and exercises in line with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code) and recommendations in the APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills and Exercises for Port Facilities.
The training involved theoretical lessons, discussions, group work and hands-on practical exercises in planning, conducting and evaluating exercises. It was organized with Mauritania's maritime authority – Direction de la Marine Marchande (DMM) – for designated authority officials, port facilities security officials, ISPS auditors, national regulators and ISPS inspectors.
The Nouadhibou workshop is the final component of a series of assistance activities, which began with an operational and physical security needs assessment mission to Nouakchott and Nouadhibou in December 2015. Following this, the DMM requested assistance with implementing maritime security measures, including a comprehensive training programme. The first component was an ISPS Code workshop for designated authority and port security officials in October 2016, which was followed by a self-assessment trainer workshop on port facilities in August 2017.
The training was conducted by two IMO Francophone consultants.