Cotton said SCASPA’s aim is to achieve full compliance with the I.S.P.S. Code regulations.
He said that through the Security Department and the Maritime Security Committee (MARSEC), they will continue to strive for required enhancements.
His comments come after four Inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard conducted an International Ship and Port Facility Code (I.S.P.S) inspection at the Sea Port and the Port Zante Cruise Ship Terminal, on Wednesday 26th October, 2011.
Under the command of Mr. John E. Hurst and Lieutenant Commander Neil Marcelino, Mr. Chad Moore and Mr. Daron Panko, joined with members of SCASPA’s MARSEC and observed and evaluated the security systems used at SCASPA, to assess the Authority’s level of compliance with the I.S.P.S. Code requirements.
After a comprehensive inspection that included records of drills and exercises, and observation of patrols by Security officers, the team reported that St. Kitts is conforming to the I.S.P.S. Code requirements and has been rated as one of the top ports in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (O.E.C.S.).
Mr. Cotton also expressed his pride at how far SCASPA has reached in achieving the goal of being fully compliant with the I.S.P.S. Code regulations. He stated, “In addition to implementing the few recommendations presented by the US Coast Guard Inspectors, we will be conducting internal audits to monitor, assess, and analyze
our procedures at SCASPA.”
The positive report from the US Coast Guard Inspectors was presented in a debriefing meeting held on Friday, 28th October, 2011 at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.
In attendance were Chief Executive Officer of SCASPA, Mr. Terrence Crossman, Director of Maritime Affairs of St. Kitts, Mr. McClean Hobson, Facility’s Manager of SCASPA, Mr. Rosevelt Trotman, Assistant Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Mr. Jevon Gumbs, Security Manager of SCASPA, Mr. Raymond Cotton, Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations of SCASPA, Mrs. Delcia Bradley-King and several senior security officers of SCASPA.
The MARSEC Committee was recently established to ensure SCASPA’s compliance to the I.S.P.S Code regulations. The committee meets regularly and creates procedures and policies to ensure that the Port is a more secure one.
The I.S.P.S. Code Inspection is held once every year by the U.S. Coastal Guard.