tough securityarebothachievable.Thenext
step is the implementationof amobile
scanner todealwithvehiclesand largecargo
– thuscompleting the screeningnet.
At thePortof Portof Spain, anew security
scannerwas installedduring the thirdquarter
of 2014.Whilecontainer screening isa
Customs responsibility, the scannerwill also
boostport securityefforts.
Alongside this, another initiative, toprotect
high-valuecontainers, addsanother layerof
defence. Port Securityasksagentsand
shipping lines for informationonany
containers that areof aparticularlyhighvalue.
Theseunitsare then stored inadedicated
area,whichbenefits fromextraCCTV
coverageandadditionalmonitoring.During
2013, 453 suchcontainersweremonitored
without incident.
Helping theneighbours
Muchof thePortof Portof Spain’sday-to-day
businessencompassesPort Security toa
greateror lesser extent, although the
departmenthasbecome soproficient that its
involvement isbarelynoticeable.
To improveefficiency in thePort’sAccess
Control System, haulierscanapply for annual
truck stickers.These stickersareavailableby
November,which is intended toeliminate the
backlogat the startof theNewYear. Each
haulier is issuedwithapassensuring
everybodyhasachance toupdateand the
transition fromoneyear to thenextgoes
smoothly.
Port Securityalsohelps tomanage the
trafficon thebusyDockRoad tohelp its
portneighbours, suchas theHyattHotel,
andhaseven supported theMinistryof
Transporton its road safetyprogrammeby
visually inspectingcargovehicles. Special
training suppliedby theMinistryensuresno
un-roadworthyvehiclesescapeanofficer’s
attention.
The social aspectofpolicingevenextends
toanannual Children’sChristmasParty,
hostedbyofficersandattendedbyover 300
children.
Ultimately, theproof of Port Security’s
phenomenal efforts is in the facts. In the
2012-2013cruise ship season, therewere
nearly66,500visitorsandalmosthalf that
numberof crew for thePortsof Portof Spain,
ScarboroughandCharlotteville.Notone
incidentwas reported.
Similarly, in2013, thePortmoved thebest
partof 40,000vehiclesandover 380,000TEUs.
Therewereminimal security-related issues.
New techniquesandcommitment areclearly
solvinganage-oldproblem.
l
Security
Portof Portof Spain
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Handbook&Directory2015 - 2016
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