Port State Control Officers boost their maritime security skills

Where do you start if asked to inspect a ship? Does the ship conform with IMO treaties? Does it require an expanded inspection? Should the ship be detained? 

Those are the types of questions that port state control officers must answer to ensure adequate security and safety standards are met.  

Increasing regional instability, conflict, piracy and transnational organized crime endanger the freedom of navigation of vessels and limit investment into port infrastructure and maritime commerce. 

To address those challenges, the Regional Programme for Maritime Security in the Red Sea Area, funded by the European Union, is holding a series of training activities to support countries to improve port security and safety of navigation in the region.  

Participants from Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen are meeting in Mombasa, Kenya (22-26 April) to increase their capacity and knowledge about the application of control and compliance measures under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), specifically Chapter XI-2 on special measures to enhance maritime security (SOLAS XI-2). The event is hosted by the Kenya Maritime Authority.  

The workshop will encourage knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices to promote proper understanding of what an effective and adequately staffed control and compliance regime entails. 

As part of the programme, participants will board a ship at the Port of Mombasa to observe a mock inspection focusing on control and compliance of maritime security measures. 

Red Sea Project 

The Regional Programme for Maritime Security in the Red Sea Area (‘Red Sea Project’), funded by the European Union, was launched in February 2021.  

Under this programme, IMO works with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in support of participating countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.  

The programme aims to develop capacities and promote adequate security and safety standards for maritime, port and land-based law-enforcement authorities, regional dialogue at the operational-level based on sound maritime domain awareness (MDA), in line with the objectives of the 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy.