From Thursday the public will no longer be able to stroll along the wharves at South Africa’s ports, but this sacrifice will help the country comply with international security standards.
South Africa, as a signatory to the Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS), was required to ”implement a security plan able to respond to government security alerts” by July 1 [Thursday], said Dumisani Ntuli, chairperson of the Maritime Security Advisory Committee.
This involved retraining security personnel, re-fencing boundaries, installing advanced security systems such as closed-circuit television, and — unfortunately for the public — restricting access to certain areas such as dock sides.
Another new security measure — Automatic Identification Systems — would allow ports to identify ships remotely, and access knowledge about the owners, the registration, and the cargo on board.
The National Ports Authority (NPA) spent over R200-million to upgrade its security system and became fully ISPS code compliant on June 25, said Ntuli.
He said security became a priority at ports around the world after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre, New York. It was recognised that ports, as vital nodes in trade movement needed to have adequate security.
Driven by impetus from the United States and the United Nations Security Council the ISPS code was created, which South Africa signed.
The Department of Transport approved the new port organisation on Wednesday, said Ntuli. As well as improved security systems, the NPA has increased its interaction with the police, defence and intelligence agencies, and with border control. – Sapa