ISPS FIRST IN MOZAMBIQUE

14 July 2003

The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) has announced that Port Maputo was fully accredited to the ISPS (International Ship and Port Security) Code on 23 June 2004.

Port security was given a high priority in the first phase of MPDC’s 3-year Rehabilitation Programme and a broad range of sweeping improvements have been implemented in order to achieve ISPS standards before the July 1 deadline.

Amongst these improvements, electric fencing, new gates, lighting, intruder detection systems, ID cards and vehicle access control systems for all port users indicate that MPDC is leading the way in which Mozambican ports address and comply with upgraded international security standards.

Describing the new security environment, Willie Nel, Port Facility Security Officer, praised the commitment of terminal operators and port users to completing the ISPS programme ahead of schedule and said, ‘Throughout the port, land-side and marine-based security patrols have been increased and reporting of suspicious activity is coordinated through a new Security Control Centre. ISPS certification confirms that MPDC has achieved its goal of making Port Maputo secure in all respects.’

Note:
Following the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened a special meeting to draw-up a new set of security measures designed to improve the detection and deterrence of threats to international maritime security. The resulting ISPS Code, which came into force on 1 July 2004, coordinates the security efforts of 152 trading nations and requires the full compliance of approximately 55,000 international trading ships and 20,000 ports around the world.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Sonia Mota
Tel: +258 1 313 920
Fax: +258 1 313 921
E-mail: sonia.mota@portmaputo.com
Picture available upon request.