Push for maritime security

 IT is important for port facility security officers involved in daily port operations “to understand their roles and responsibilities to enhance the implementation of maritime security”, an official says.

Department of Transport Secretary Roy Mumu said this during the opening of the maritime internal auditors training in Port Moresby yesterday.

He said the internal auditors training was important “to comply with the mandatory requirements of the International Ships and Ports Security code, and the Merchant Shipping (maritime security) regulation 2013”.

He said due to the lack of certified maritime auditors in port facilities around the country, the department had taken the initiative to facilitate a maritime auditors training in conjunction with the secretariat of the Pacific community in Fiji.

“Assets such as ships and port facilities must be protected and the persons involved in the daily operations and management of these assets must be adequately trained,” he said.

“The department is improving the way it conducts business and it would be effective to reduce cost incurred every year as well as empowering the international ships and ports security auditors to audit their own facilities.”

He said it was an open but effective approach where training port facility security officers became international ships and ports security auditors.

“It will enable the port operators to take ownership and have greater responsibility in managing and securing their respective facilities,” he said.

Representatives from more than 10 organisations are participating in the week-long training.