No. H002/04 For release January 15, 2004 TRANSPORT MINISTER ANNOUNCES CONTRACTCALL FOR PROFESSIONAL ANALYSIS OF SHIPSECURITY PLANSOTTAWA - Transport Minister Tony Valeri today announced a call for tender for contractors to review vessel security assessments and plans for large Canadian flagged vessels that navigate international waters, and the ports that serve them. Transport Canada is implementing International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements concerning security plans for commercial vessels that operate internationally, as well as for the ports they visit. The IMO, through its International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), imposes a number of security requirements on maritime operators, including a requirement that all vessels of more than 500 gross registered tons that operate internationally and their ports of call have security plans in place by July 1, 2004. In addition, Transport Canada is extending these requirements to include any ship weighing more than 100 gross registered tons and their ports. The department is requiring that affected vessels and ports submit their plans by January 31, 2004, to allow for a full assessment and approval before the IMO deadline. "This call for tender is the latest step in Transport Canada's drive to enhance the nation's marine security environment," said Mr. Valeri. "It embodies the Government of Canada's firm commitment to meet - or exceed - international marine security requirements while facilitating Canada's international trading abilities." Transport Canada continues to develop Canadian marine security regulations in order to implement all requirements of the ISPS Code. Transport Canada has already engaged in extensive consultations with stakeholders across the country. These consultations will enable Transport Canada to create the best possible standards to meet, or exceed, IMO requirements and also facilitate transborder trade by harmonizing standards with the United States. The tender was posted today on MERX, Canada's official public sector electronic tendering service. To view the call for tender, please visit the MERX website at www.merx.com and enter reference number PW-$$ZG-406-11249. A backgrounder on marine security is attached. -30- Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDERMARINE SECURITYSOLAS is the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, established by the International Maritime Organization. It applies to vessels of 500 gross registered tons or more travelling in international waters. By July 1, 2004, all SOLAS-class vessels and the port facilities that serve them must meet the requirements of International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The ISPS Code applies to commercial ships of 500 gross registered tons and greater, Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, and port facilities serving such ships engaged on international voyages. Transport Canada is leading efforts with stakeholders to develop and implement the legal/regulatory framework needed to implement the ISPS Code in Canada. This will require: establishing an ongoing marine security stakeholder consultative mechanism; building partnerships with stakeholders and other countries; drafting new regulations; introducing amendments to legislation and regulations where required to correspond with IMO and other related demands; and conducting inspection and, where necessary, enforcement activity. During the late summer and fall of 2003, Transport Canada held a number of meetings with marine stakeholders on ISPS Code issues. The department also formed three working groups, which include representatives of government and the marine sector, to help formulate draft regulations in three key sectors of the marine industry covered by the ISPS Code: ships, ports and port facilities, and mobile offshore drilling units. Moreover, Transport Canada and U.S. Coast Guard are working closely together to coordinate and harmonize the marine security regimes of the two countries so that Canadian-flagged ships that meet Canadian security standards can enter U.S. harbours and U.S. flagged ships that meet U.S. standards can enter Canadian harbours. As such, Transport Canada's marine security regime will not be limited to SOLAS-class vessels and port facilities, but will also include vessels meeting the following criteria: cargo vessels of 100 gross registered tons or greater; towing vessels greater than eight metres in length engaged in towing certain classes of barge; and passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers. The harmonized standards will surpass the IMO/ISPS mandated threshold of 500 gross registered tons by requiring that all Canadian and American flagged vessels, undertaking international voyages and weighing 100 gross registered tons and over, conduct vessel security assessments and develop vessel security plans. Transport Canada has already requested that vessels meeting both the Canada-U.S. and the SOLAS-class criteria and the port facilities that serve them conduct security assessments and submit security plans by January 31, 2004. It is expected that the verification of these assessments and plans will be completed by the end of May 2004, after which the department will issue International Ship Security Certificates to vessel operators. These certificates are required to comply with the ISPS Code as of July 1, 2004 and to facilitate entry to ISPS Code-compliant port facilities in Canada and abroad. Transport Canada continues to work diligently to further improve the security of the transportation system in Canada and takes all reasonable actions to promote heightened safety and security in all modes of transportation. January 2004
