AUSTRALIAN shipowners have expressed alarm about revelations that warning systems on their vessels are useless in preventing acts of terrorism.
Sixty-three Australian-flagged ships, as well as thousands of foreign ships entering Australian waters, have been forced to carry the flawed system since 2004 under orders from the International Maritime Organisation.
The Australian reported yesterday that the first global study into the effectiveness of the system has concluded they were "a complete waste of resources".
The Australian Shipowners Association, which represents the nation's merchant fleet, said the findings were disturbing and called for international action toimprove the workability of the system.
ASA director of maritime operations Teresa Hatch told The Australian: "This is an issue we will have to deal with. This needs to be taken up with theIMO."
She said Australian shipowners had had to pay about $40,000 to install the system and that it was unacceptable to then learn that it was flawed.
The study into the effectiveness of Ship Security Alert Systems by Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies found they were almost entirely ineffective in stopping terrorism.
The system uses a silent alarm that is activated when the captain pushes an emergency button located on the bridge. But the study found that this alarm did not go straight to the nearest authorities who could render assistance to the ship. Instead, it took a lengthy and inefficient route around the world, first to the ship's owners, then to the ship's flag state, before being relayed to the coastal authorities closest to the ship.
The most common "flag states" for merchant ships are Panama, Liberia and the Bahamas, which are often ill-equipped to pass on timely emergency information about a possible terrorist incident in Australian waters.
"A ship security alert will bereceived by a shipowner or flag state thousands of miles removed from the scene of the potential security threat, leaving everyone nearby completely unaware of the potential danger," the study says.
Ms Hatch said that while no Australian ships had had to use the system in anger so far, it was important that the system be made effective.
"Security is about preparation, making sure you have all systems in place and working," she said.
The report's author, Thomas Timlen, said the IMO was aware of the study but had so far not taken any action to rectify the shortcomings of the SSAS.
The IMO made the systems mandatory in all merchant ships after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks but sources say the process was rushed and was not properly evaluated or monitored.
1 comment:
One important point that many have not yet seen is even more alarming. Recall for a moment the attack on the USS Cole using a small motorboat packed with explosives, and the separate incident involving the SCUD missiles smuggled in a cargo ship from North Korea to Yemen.
Naval ships are clearly targets for terrorists, and a merchant ship could be used in an attack on a larger scale than the attack against the USS Cole (and even the MT Lindburg).
Here an immediate warning from a ship security alert system could be crucial in protecting naval ships.
However, and sadly, Naval ships now receive absolutely no indication whatsoever when ship security alert systems are activated. As such, they remain 'sitting ducks' whilst danger approaches.
This is just one of many examples illustrating why the shortcomings of the ship security alert systems demand immediate action.
Thomas Timlen
Singapore
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