BOC Port of Subic acquires 2 patrol boats

In an effort to strengthen its maritime security capabilities in this premier Freeport, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic has launched two new water patrol boats.

Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Maritess Martin said that the 12.7-meter patrol boats, which they acquired from the head office, are capable of reaching speeds of over 45 knots and will be used by the BOC in boarding formalities, patrol and water pursuit within the nation’s borders.

Martin also said that these two boats are built to complete demanding missions with absolute reliability. She added that these boats will primarily be deployed for rapid interception of smugglers to foil smuggling activities and other fraudulent activities through consistent patrolling.

The two fast patrol boats will be used for the joint operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the BOC Port of Subic in suppressing smuggling activities in our shores, and to carry out customs-related operations.

Martin also expressed her gratitude to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino for supporting the agency’s undertakings in this premier Freeport.

“The Port of Subic is just so excited and privileged to be given the opportunity to continue our service, not only through the collection of lawful revenue, but also by patrolling our waters thus prevent smuggling,” she said.

Chairman Paulino, moreover, lauded the efforts of BOC Port of Subic for protecting the waters of this premier Freeport, citing that this will provide full support in the agency’s endeavor in preventing smuggling.

Meanwhile, BOC Water Patrol Division SP Maj. Danielo S. Gonzales, and ESS-CPD District Commander S/P Capt. Vincent Mark S. Malasmas was also present during the inauguration of the two patrol boats. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, PNP partners to provide security for Subic Bay

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), thru its Maritime Group (MG), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide better security for the waters of Subic Bay.

The MOA signing transpired between SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino and PNP-MG Director Police Brigadier General Harold B. Tuzon, and was witnessed by Deputy Chief PNP for Administration Police Lt. General Rhodel Orden Sermonia and SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao.

According to Chairman Paulino, the PNP-MG will provide trained and licensed personnel to man seven of the agency’s patrol boats comprising of three multi-purpose patrol boats, a search and rescue vessel, a garbage collection/firefighting vessel, an oil skimmer/firefighting vessel, and a line handling and utility boat.

These vessels were identified as MV Kalayaan, MV Binictican, MV Redondo, MV Ilanin, MV Triboa, MV Cubi, and MV Maritan.

“The operation tasking will be under our Seaport Department, and these vessels can only be used with the SBMA’s prescribed authority and within the vessels’ operational requirement,” Paulino said.

The SBMA chief added that the agency will provide an office and quartering facility for the PNP-MG personnel at the portion of Bldg. 696, located at the former Ship Repair Facility (SRF) wherein only a maximum of 30 personnel are allowed.

“The PNP Maritime will use, maintain, and occupy the facility for the use it is intended. They will shoulder the repair and maintenance of the facility for the entire duration of the agreement,” he said.

PNP-MG chief Tuzon said that aside from manning the boats, the group will provide technical, mechanical and physical vessel services for the repair of the patrol boats at their own expense. He added that they will also provide operation trip reports.

“In case of emergency or natural disaster or as maybe needed by the SBMA, the PNP-MG shall provide assistance and services upon request of the SBMA,” he added.

“With that said, we will provide security and other support and assistance, which shall promote the development, conservation, management, protection, and utilization of resources in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and its surrounding areas,” he cited.

Meanwhile, deputy chief Sermonia cited that with the added safety and security from the PNP-MG, the Subic Bay Freeport should expect more businesses to boom as he believes this is one of the key factors that makes the area a viable place to conduct business.

After the MOA signing, the PNP officials conducted a site inspection and evaluation of the vessels. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA conducts emergency exercises to ensure port security

Port stakeholders inside this premier special economic zone periodically conduct simulation exercises to test emergency response capability and plans, as well as further hone systems and procedures for various emergency scenario.

The latest was the Port Security Emergency Response Exercise at the New Container Terminal (NCT) to test procedures and contingency plans for security breach.

SBMA Seaport Department Safety Specialist Diego Aviles said the exercise was spearheaded by the SBMA and implemented with the Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC), which operates the container port.

The exercise was observed by the PNP Maritime Group 3, the Coast Guard Olongapo Substation, as well as representatives from the Leyte Port Facility, SRF Port Facility, SSTI Boton Port Facility, and PPC Boton Port Facility.

“The exercise is part of the goal of the SBMA Seaport Department to ensure port security,” Aviles said, pointing out that the program has four objectives that must be met: activate port security advisory committee (PSAC) in the Port of Subic; test the capabilities of emergency responders; test communications and coordination; and check resource availability and response.

The exercise scenario placed a moving craft that was sighted at the waters near the NCT. Whereupon the Subic Port Communications called the attention of the watercraft via radio communication for proper identification, but failed.

"As the craft reaches the NCT port, the Port Communications should alert the port facility safety officer (PFSO), including the SBMA Law Enforcement Department," Aviles said.

Aviles said that participants of the simulation exercise “passed with flying colors,” as all concerned offices put out the appropriate quick response to the security threat.

Early on, the SBMA and various stakeholders in the maritime sector also conducted an Oil Spill Simulation Exercise at the Boton Wharf to strengthen capabilities in emergency response.

Aviles said the exercise successfully tested the capabilities of the Boton port facility, as well as identify concerns and needed resources to sustain the oil spill response operation, activate the Seaport Emergency Response Team, and measure the deployment of the oil spill equipment and response time.

The SBMA Seaport Department said that at least nine shipping lines regularly make ship calls in the Subic, which also receives port visits by military ships from time to time. The increasing number of ship-calls due to growing container traffic here calls for top-notch port security procedures and emergency action plans, SBMA officials said. (MPD-SBMA)

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MOA signed empowering SBMA, 3 more port authorities to require security compliance

CITING terrorism as the number one threat in transportation, four port authorities yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) on the issuance of security certification for Philippine-registered vessels and port facilities.

The MOA will further empower Cebu Port Authority (CPA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) and Regional Ports Management Authority (RPMA) of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in requiring security compliance of port operators and in imposing penalties on violations.

The MOA was signed by OTS Administrator Roland Recomono, CPA General Manager Edmund Tan, Jerome Martinez for SBMA, Dhart Carpio for Ceza and Hanie Bud for RPMA.

Monitoring

Under the MOA, and in the case of Cebu, a vessel owner or port operator will submit a security plan, such as X-ray machine for passenger screening and manual screening of cargoes, to CPA. The CPA will review and assess the plan and, if in order, endorse it to OTS for second review and approval.

Once the OTS approves the plan, it will assign an oversight team to monitor compliance. If the plan has been complied with, then the OTS will issue a certificate of compliance.

Reconomo said the security plan and compliance must be in accordance with Chapter XI-2 of the Safety of Life at Sea 74 and the International Standard for Port Facilities Security, both imposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Abaya’s message

The signing was witnessed by Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Undersecretary Jualianito Bucayan Jr., port officials, port operators, shipping lines owners and operators, and other maritime industry stakeholders.

In DOTC Secretary Antonio Abaya’s message read by Bucayan, Abaya said sea transport and maritime infrastructure and the public are living in an era where the ever-changing threats of violence can impact our daily lives at any time.

“As a consequence, we have to find ways of trying to prevent the atrocities that might take place by having mechanism to respond should disaster strike,” Abaya said.

“Terrorism existed yesterday, occurs today and will persist tomorrow. Terrorists have continued to target the transportation system to publicize their cause or ideology. We are all witness to the emergence of global attacks in the recent past to the security and safety of our riding public either in land, maritime and civil aviation,” he said.

To counter these unlawful acts of terrorism, Abaya said it is imperative that transportation security infrastructure should be effective.

“In the pursuit of security excellence, we must adopt the latest professional skills and technology available which, in conjunction with well-trained and motivated security professionals, can help protect the industry from increasing sophisticated threats to the maritime infrastructure and facilities,” he said.

Abaya said the outcome of this endeavor will enhance the enforcement security of shipping and port operators to enroll in the security program, thus eventually complying with the maritime security standards prescribed by IMO. (Elias O. Baquero, Sun Star)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2014/11/04/moa-signed-empowering-4-port-authorities-require-security-compliance-3747

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US Coast Guard lauds Subic Bay port security plan

A ranking officer of the United States Coast Guard praised the port security plan being implemented by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and pier operators here, saying it is one of the best there is today.

US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer made the evaluation during a tabletop exercise and drill on SBMA’s port security held Wednesday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

The event, which gathered participants from the SBMA and Subic Freeport pier operators, as well as representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard and the maritime police, was organized by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) of the Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC), in collaboration with the US Coast Guard.

“We were surprised by how well everybody responded to scenarios,” Moyer said after the exercises.

“We’ve travelled to a lot of countries and I can say this is unequivocally the best capacity-building exercise that we’ve seen,” Moyer added.

Moyer also encouraged the participants to continue the training exercises and expand the umbrella port-wide plan.

He recommended the utilization of the APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills as reference in enabling further inter-operability of the plan in response to issues, threats, and risks not only from a facility and port-wide perspective, but from a regional perspective as well.

SBMA Seaport manager Jerome Martinez said the exercises have proven the effectiveness and proficient inter-operability of Subic Bay’s port-wide security plan, which is in compliance with the International Ships and Port Security (ISPS) code, requiring all international ports to develop and maintain security procedures.

The OTS-DOTC has recently issued anew a certificate of compliance to SBMA for its port security manual, detailing security measures and controls in times of threats and other emergencies that may occur in any of the berths and wharves of the Freeport zone.

“Our lookouts are security threats that are prevalent such as smuggling of illegal goods, human trafficking, pilferage, and theft. Then again, we are also prepared for regional threats such as piracy and terrorism,” Martinez said.

The US Coast Guard participated as a first-time facilitator of the exercises in the Philippines, together with the OTS-DOTC.

Participating in the tabletop port security drills were SBMA’s first responders; namely its Seaport, Law Enforcement, Fire, and Public Health and Safety Departments.

On the other hand, SBF pier operators that joined the drills were Boton Pier operator Seaport Terminal, Inc. (STI); New Container Terminal (NCT) 1 and 2 operator Subic Bay International Container Terminal (SBICT); POL pier operator Coastal Petroleum; SRF operator Global Terminals and Development Inc.; Subic Bay Yacht Club; and Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC) Philippines. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer shares his views on ports security during an exercise attended by various port users and locators, as well as SBMA security personnel and emergency responders to ensure port safety and security in the Subic Bay Freeport.

[2] US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer shows an APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills as a handy manual during the Ports Security Drills and Exercises at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The table-top exercise was attended by various port users and locators, as well as SBMA security personnel and emergency responders in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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