§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Code; how many ships and ports have reached the required standard; and what estimate he has made of the date by which the UK will have met these obligations. [141911]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Department for Transport's Transport Security Directorate (TRANSEC) is carrying out a programme of assessments of all the UK ports which fall within the scope of the IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, leading to the approval of Port Facility Security Plans and implementation of security measures. TRANSEC is also approving Ship Security Plans (SSPs) and issuing International Ship Security Certificates (ISSCs) for UK flagged cruise ships and ferries. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is approving SSPs and issuing ISSCs for the UK flagged cargo fleet.
The Government expect that all UK ports and UK flagged ships will comply with the required ISPS standards by the deadline date of 1 July 2004.