Maritime drill to simulate terrorism-related scenarios

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 13): Maritime drill to simulate terrorism-related scenarios

The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and the Maritime Transportation Security Bureau (MTSB) will conduct a maritime drill and exercise at Pier 4, North Harbor in Manila City as preparation for security threats in ports and ships.

Scheduled on March 20, the drill is aimed at ensuring the country’s maritime transportation system follows the global security standard implemented by the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code as well as the National Security Programme for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure.
According to Director Isidro Bañaria of the OTS-MTSB, the exercise is also a way of checking if ship companies are compliant with the procedures set by the Agency in terms of coordination/communication with the proper government agencies with specific functions in response, rescue, and operations.

Government agencies involved in the scenario are the Philippine National Police, OTS, and the Philippine Coast Guard, among others.

With this, the government is bent on ensuring that our domestic shipping and maritime infrastructure are protected against future terrorist incidents or that actual security incident are mitigated considering the vulnerability of ships and port facilities.

In the maritime drill, three scenarios will be simulated. These are:Terrorist boarding the ship and how the ship marshals must handle the situation; 2) Unattended and suspicious bags within ship premises; and 3) Bomb explosion and how involved government units should respond.

The drill will also show how shipping companies and ports make proper use of port facilities, new ship equipment, and other mechanical innovations that will improve comfort, safety, and security of the passengers.

With the exercise, maritime stakeholders will be given exposure and familiarization of the maritime security environment and operation at the macro level.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=281363079979