The Liberia Maritime Authority, as Designated Authority of Liberia’s International Port Security Program, held a gathering on the morning of October 24 with a delegation from the United States Coast Guard to mark the start of a weeklong pre-assessment go to to Liberia.
In remarks, the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Eugene Lenn Nagbe burdened the crucial consideration Liberia offers to the International Security program with the cognizance that safety points inside waters worldwide don’t solely have an effect on choose international locations however Liberia as effectively.
“The Liberia Maritime Authority attaches great importance to security standards to remain in compliance so that we can be a strong contributor in the chain of securing our waters and not to be a weakling, given that one weakling would determine the strength of the entire chain,” he mentioned.
According to Nagbe, the final go to of the US Coast Guard recognized some areas that wanted to be improved, efforts have been made to direct give attention to these features of the nation’s port safety regime. Moreover, Liberia remains to be open to enchancment.
He assured the visiting US Coast Guard officers that the Liberian staff will make sure that the assessments are carried out freely with minimal interference as an illustration of the nation’s willingness to take the safety of its ports to a different stage.
Nagbe emphasised that the US Coast Guard evaluation tram’s go to could be very crucial for Liberia as a rustic working laborious to enhance on its safety indicators. “Since your last visit, a whole lot has happened and where there would be concerns for attention, we will act appropriately,” he assured the visiting USCG staff.
As a method of offering the staff with empirical context, the Director of Maritime Security and Chief ISPS Compliance Officer, Simeon Cheah mentioned a number of measures have been taken to strengthen worldwide port safety applications throughout the nation with periodic assessments and audits of permitted safety procedures at numerous services.
He mentioned additional that the place challenges have been recognized, steps have been taken to appropriate them, including that with the involvement of all stakeholders; safety drills have been performed nationwide in a bid to check the viability of safety practices.
The Liberian Maritime Security Chief knowledgeable the United States Coast Guard officers that fines, penalties and different types of punitive actions are thought-about to compel compliance among the many numerous companies of Government.
Cheah indicated {that a} National Maritime Security Strategy is being reviewed for implementation to emphasise Liberia’s dedication to upholding worldwide finest practices in safety requirements.
The Head of the visiting US Coast Guard delegation, Daniel VanBuskirk mentioned the evaluation would search to establish finest practices within the implementation of the port safety program.
These findings, in accordance with him, are shared with different nations for the aim of data sharing, alignment of safety practices and giving eager consideration to low value improvements and safety practices which have proven to have important affect.
He burdened that the US Coast Guard believes that in sharing these finest practices, safety may be enhanced and confidence boosted.
“We have witnessed continual improvement in security in Liberia since 2016. So, ships that come to the United States from Liberia are no longer subjected to certain conditions,” he indicated.
VanBuskirk identified that the visiting staff would overview the port safety system that was in place earlier than Liberia was faraway from the US Coast Guard Advisory List. This could be to make sure that the improved safety system is in place put up Covid-19.
According to the US Coast Guard Regional Analyst for Africa and the Middle East, he was glad to listen to that fines and different punitive regimens are in place to make sure that each main actor performs their half. He mentioned this was not the case in different international locations.
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