International Conventions
At international level safety at sea has, since the Titanic disaster of 1914, been safeguarded by the Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), regulated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). After the terrorist attacks of the early 2000s, a new chapter of SOLAS was agreed: the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The code sets detailed security requirements for governments and port authorities on port security: staffing; equipment; assessment; monitoring cargoes; controlling access. It also sets similar rules for shipping companies regarding security and certification of vessels under SOLAS.
European legislation
An EU Regulation was formulated to incorporate the ISPS code into EU law. However, the code only covers the physical area between the ship and the port. The Commission therefore proposed a directive in Feb 2004, to cover areas beyond this space, in and around ports.
Container Security Initiative (CSI)
In January 2002, the US launched the CSI, whereby maritime containers identified as a possible security risk through intelligence procedures, are intercepted at ports throughout the world. By a set of agreement between US and national governments, containers are screened at national ports by officials from the US Customs & Border Protection, working with national counterparts.
