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Panama-flag vessels suffered another security setback in their relations with the US Coast Guard, US Custom Service, US Immigration Service and the US State Department when 32 stowaways were discovered January 15 in two containers being unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles from the NKY Athena, a Panamanian-flag vessel.

Vessels flying the Panamanian flag have not been faring well under the US Coast Guard's "Port State Control" security findings. Panamanian vessels received two-points under the Targeted Flag States. Another two points were assigned to vessels that had been certified by two Panamanian Recognized Security Organizations: Marine Security of Panama and Panama Maritime Quality Services.

The points were assigned under the US Coast Guard's ISPS/MTSA Security Compliance Targeting Matrix. The USCG developed the screening tool to determine which commercial ships to target for inspection based on the following risk factors:

• the ship management company;

• the flag state;

• the recognized security organization (RSO) involved;

• the individual vessel's security regulation compliance history; and
•
the five most recent previous ports of call.

Ships that accumulate 17 points or more in all five categories will be assessed as "ISPS I" and the USCG will board and inspect the vessel at sea prior to arrival, if it is allowed to arrive at all. If the ship accumulates between 7 and 16 points in all five categories it will be assessed as "ISPS II" and be subject to boarding and inspection on arrival. Under a third "ISPS III" category vessels are to be boarded or not at random.

The result of some Panama-flag ships already having four points against them will mean that they are likely to be boarded and inspected when reaching a US port.

Additional points will be assigned if something is wrong with the ship's security plan, its response to the USCG's inspectors, or if it has recently visited one of the nations listed in the USCG's Port Security Advisory. Vessels with additional points will run an increasing risk of port control detention. Regardless, they will be placed at a competitive disadvantage to vessels that can deliver their cargo more expeditiously and risk more demurrage charges.

The "flag state" category is based on security-related denials of entry or expulsions from port and ISPS-related detentions to vessels flying the flag of that state within the period of interest. Therefore, the more Panama-flag vessels that are detained, the more points that will be assigned to other vessels under Panamanian registry.

The RSO category is to identify companies who certified vessels who were later subject to ISPS-related detention, expulsion, or denial of entry. Vessels certified by Marine Security of Panama and Panama Maritime Quality Services received the two points on the matrix.

In September of 2004, the Panama Maritime Authority issued Resolution Number 29 naming additional companies to carry our evaluations and approval of vessel security plans. Interestingly, a number of the RSOs identified on the USCG Port State Control matrix remain on the list of approved RSOs.

This follows widespread dissatisfaction by shipowners, particularly among Japanese shipowners, with Panama's efforts to comply with the ISPS Code. It was reported that by the July 1 deadline, 2000 Panamanian-registered ships had not been certified. The US Coast Guard detained sixteen Panamanian-registered ships in the first week of the ISPS Code. Sixty percent of the Panamanian-registered fleet is owned by Japanese, South Korean, or Taiwanese interests.

The type of security services all vessel owners should be seeking in an RSO are:

• A thorough assessment of security equipment, procedures, probable threats based on likely ports of call and the crew's competence and certification;

• Development of an effective Ships Security Plan tailored to the operations of the individual vessel; and

• Training of ship security officer and crew in security procedures including operational drills and tests.

Fortunately for Panama-flagged vessels, the RSO listing is only good for one year and along with that and other factors, the overall rating of the flag state can be improved by conscientious compliance with domestic and international maritime security standards.


Captain Joseph Jones is a former US Coast Guard officer who now works as an executive in the maritime security industry.




Also in this section:
Torrijos blinks, but tax hike on track
No deal in 7th round of US-RP free trade talks
Stowaways, ship delays in US waters and RP ISPS implementation
Business & Economy Briefs

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