New anti-terror security in place in Irish ports
The security arrangements estimated to cost between €5-10 million are aimed at preventing a terrorist strike on Ireland or the use of Irish ports for an attack on another country, such as the UK or the US.
"This is an anti-terrorist initiative to prevent either a direct hit on Ireland or the use of Ireland as a conduit to hit somewhere else, such as London, Rotterdam or New York, said Michael Harrington of Irish Security Consultants RMI.
RMI was brought in to act as advisers to Irish ports in the implementation of a new code, introduced by the United Nations International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on July 1, 2004.
"All the ports are now compliant with the UN code and have been issued with certificates of compliance by the Department of Marine," said Mr Harrington.
The country's seven main ports now have:
A detailed security plan
A designated security manager
Staff trained in security
More barriers, restricted areas and manned gates (depending on the port)
More baggage checks, screening of traffic and people and photo identification facilities (depending on the port).
The seven ports are Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Rosslare, Waterford, Cork, Bantry and Shannon/Foynes.
Mr Harrington said ports must have sufficient staff available should the threat assessment change. Under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) there are three categories:
Security Level 1: normal, with minimum security measures
Security Level 2: heightened, with additional measures as a result of a heightened risk of a security incident
Security Level 3: exceptional, with further measures when a security incident is probable or imminent.
Mr Harrington said both the IMO and the EU would carry out audits on the ports. An IMO spokesperson said the code was introduced in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the US and that the terrorist threat to ports was "very real."
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