HL Deb 17 March 2004 vol 659 cc55-8WA
The Earl of Caithness

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many vessels there are in the United Kingdom flag fleet; and how many have been issued with a security certificate under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; and [HL1863]

What resources they have allocated to ensure that all vessels in the United Kingdom are issued with security certificates under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code by 1 July 2004. [HL1865]

Lord Davies of Oldham

There are over 600 UK flagged ships that are affected by the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

The Department for Transport's Security Directorate (TRANSEC), in conjunction with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), has the policy lead and is responsible for introducing the ISPS code requirements. TRANSEC is responsible for UK ports and passenger shipping, and the MCA is responsible for non-passenger shipping, under a policy framework set by TRANSEC.

Both TRANSEC and the MCA have recruited and trained new staff to ensure that they have adequate resources to fulfil the task of assessing and approving ship security plans, and are already issuing international ship security certificates to passenger and non-passenger ships.

For security reasons it is not appropriate to disclose the number of ships that have already been issued with a certificate, however the vast majority now have approved plans.

The Government expect that all UK flagged ships will comply with the required ISPS standards by the deadline date of 1 July 2004.

The Earl of Caithness

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will compensate the owner of a United Kingdom flag vessel who suffers financially if upon inspection that vessel is found to have a flawed security certificate issued under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. [HL1864]

Lord Davies of Oldham

As the designated authority under the ISPS code the Department for Transport has developed a rigorous ship security plan approval regime for the UK flagged fleet.

Clear guidelines and deadlines have been issued to industry to submit their ship security plans to the Department for Transport's Security Directorate (TRANSEC) for passenger ships and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for non-passenger ships for examination and approval. Once a plan has been approved, it must be verified on board the ship prior to issuing an international ship security certificate (ISSC).

Any ship that does not comply with the UK's standards for implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code will not be issued with a certificate. Once an ISSC has been issued, the responsibility for ensuring continued adherence to the ship security plan will fall on the ship. UK flagged ships will be subject to compliance inspections, but the Government will not be in a position to compensate any operator that fails to maintain an adequate level of security.

The Earl of Caithness

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many ports in the United Kingdom need to be assessed to meet the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; how many have already been assessed; and how many have been certified as complying with the code; and [HL1866]

What guidance and timescale they have issued to ports and port operators with regard to the implementation of the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; and [HL1867]

What resources they have allocated to ensure that all ports and port operations meet the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code by 1 July 2004. [HL1868]

Lord Davies of Oldham

The Department for Transport's Security Directorate (TRANSEC) has the policy lead and is responsible for introducing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code requirements to approximately 600 UK port facilities by the deadline date of 1 July 2004.

TRANSEC has recruited and trained new inspectors to ensure they have adequate resources to fulfil the task of assessing port facilities and approving port facility security plans.

For security reasons it is not appropriate to set out in detail the number of port facilities that have already been assessed or the number of port facility security plans approved.

However, all of the major UK ports including the passenger operations have been assessed and port facility security assessment (PFSA) reports have been prepared. UK ports have two months from the date of receiving the PFSA reports in which to prepare and submit their plans.

Along with the individual PFSA reports, industry has been provided with port facility security instructions and security standards for passenger, container ro-ro, other bulk cargo, and chemical oil and gas port facilities. These will form the basis of their port facility security plans.

A port facility security plan template has also been made available to assist companies to prepare their plans.