The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has asked the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to update the main framework of maritime security regulations. This request follows the increasing attacks on commercial vessels and the emergence of cyber and technological threats that have highlighted potential weaknesses in the existing regulations.
Maritime Security Regulations and Existing Challenges
In a statement released on November 5, this industry group, representing about 400 ports and related businesses worldwide, announced the need for updated guidance on the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) to reflect modern port operations and foster greater collaboration between governments and the industry.
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According to a survey of 181 maritime stakeholders, the effectiveness of the current framework is assessed to be less than 50 percent. Additionally, 83 percent of respondents identified cybersecurity and digitalization as weaknesses, and 57 percent pointed to emerging technologies and automation.
Security Impacts on Commodity Markets
This discussion arises as key energy transport routes are affected by security concerns. The International Maritime Organization has recorded over 120 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, more than 100 attacks in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, and 19 incidents of attack or piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean this year. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of 24 seafarers and possibly 38 additional casualties.
Despite recent improvements, S&P Global Commodities data indicates that crude oil and refined product exports from the Middle East averaged 18.8 million barrels per day in October, which is only 72 percent of the pre-war level before the U.S.-Iran conflict began in late February.
Jeremy Greenwood, head of maritime security at the IMO, welcomed further discussions on the ISPS code but emphasized that the increasing threats do not necessarily indicate a fundamental flaw in the regulations. He stated, "I believe we may have more of an operational issue than a regulatory one."
The ISPS code, adopted in 2002 and made mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea since 2004, sets security requirements for ships and ports, including access controls, threat assessments, security plans, and operational procedures.
Updating this code seems particularly necessary following the U.S. proposal this year, which stated that the code has not undergone significant changes since its adoption. Timothy Brown, head of the Standards Assessment and Development Office at the U.S. Coast Guard, noted that cyberattacks and anti-drone measures involve "very different threat factors that did not exist 20 years ago."
Security disruptions also have direct implications for commodity markets, as attacks or stringent security measures can disrupt loading operations and limit access to vessels, increasing shipping and insurance costs.
Peter van Prys, COO of the North Sea Port and chair of the IAPH Risk and Resilience Committee, called for a more effective framework instead of merely expanding regulations, stating that the industry does not need a "larger ISPS, but perhaps a more effective ISPS" that focuses on emerging risks and evaluates its implementation outcomes.
The International Maritime Organization is set to hold its next Maritime Safety Committee meeting from December 14 to 18, where proposals related to the ISPS framework and port security will be presented for discussion.
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