Border control, law enforcement and maritime authorities in Puntland, Somalia have completed key training to strengthen their capacity in port facility security assessment, in the face of ongoing security threats in the region (12-14 December).
Organized by IMO under the framework of the EU-funded Regional Programme for Maritime Security in the Red Sea Area (“Red Sea Project”), the training took place at the port of Bosaso, in Somalia. Puntland Ministry, the Somali regional authority and its Department of Port Administration, border control, law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders joined the exercise.
The programme emphasized maritime security as an enabler for maritime development, and the importance of inter-agency cooperation. Lectures and discussions examined the special measures outlined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Chapter XI-2) to enhance maritime security, as well as the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) and related guidance.
The ISPS Code establishes an international framework for collaboration between governments, agencies, local authorities and the maritime industry to assess and address potential security threats to ships and port facilities involved in international trade. It defines the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders at national, regional, and global levels and provides a methodology for conducting security assessments and developing effective security plans for ships and ports.
Participants laid the groundwork for the development of a comprehensive port facility security plan that takes into consideration ongoing threats to maritime security in the Red Sea area.
The training concluded with the presentation of certificates by Shakir Mohamed Guled, Puntland Minister of Maritime Transport, Ports and Maritime Crime Prevention, held at the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) headquarters in Mogadishu.