The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the US Coastguard yesterday embarked on a training exercise meant to boost port security.
GINA said that the two-day tabletop training exercise is being held at the Regency Hotel, in Georgetown.
United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Brian Behler, currently serving as the Interim International Port Security Officer said the response from several agencies to a simulation exercise of an attack on a local port facility will be assessed. He said this will be done because, “we can run through our plans, ensure that they are all still practical, that they make sense and we are able to execute those, knowing what kind of resources, personnel and time requirements we’ll have to ensure the safety of all the people of Guyana and resolve whatever kind of incident arises as quickly as possible”.
Behler said “Our goal is to take whatever preparations you have taken to respond to a terrorist threat and increase those and make a tougher and harder target”.
The exchange will see three US facilitators presenting some of the best practices that they have indentified from around the world, and sharing as well as learning from their local counterparts and stakeholders, GINA said.
Director General of the Maritime Administration Department, Claudette Rogers said the exercise is part of an ongoing programme, in keeping with the International Ship and Port Facilities Code.
Participating in the event are local Coast Guard ranks and officers, members of the Guyana Police and Guyana Fire Service, Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), Ministry of Health and local Shipping Associations.
Guyana is a signatory to the International Ship and Port Facilities Code(ISPS) which is an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988) on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports and government agencies, GINA disclosed. Having come into force in 2004, it prescribes responsibilities to governments, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port/facility personnel to “detect security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade.”