The port security plan, designed for the Karachi Port under the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code, provides that entry to ship will be strictly regulated.
With the implementation of ISPS code, only authorised persons or representatives of the concerned organisation will board the ship. The port users will have to forward the list of the personnel along with their requirement on board to the respective PFSO at least 24 hours prior to the arrival of the ship.
The delivery of ship's stores will be subject to security checks. Special passes would be issued each time to the concerned persons to board the vessel for doing a job.
Under the security plan, parking on berths would be strictly prohibited and no vehicle would be allowed to proceed to the berths. Access to the berths will only be allowed to the bona fide personnel, who are required for the cargo handling operations.
The plan has been approved by the designated authority and the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) would comply with the ISPS Code, effective from July 1.
With the implementation of the code, access control into the port facilities and onboard ships would be seriously controlled and certain security levels would be maintained at all times, subject to the prevailing security situations.
Under the plan, three security levels - "A", "B", and "C" - have been defined for the port users, ship agents, stevedores and Karachi Dock Labour Board (KDLB) labourers and KPT, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Customs officials.
Export cargo on ports, which are not certified by the ISPS code, would be subject to stringent and extra security checks on major world ports. This would result in delay in delivery of the consignments.