The Implementation of The ISPS Code at The Tema Fishing Harbour

ABSTRACT

The Gulf of Guinea which currently tops in the security incident of IUU fishing and also a hotspot for maritime armed robbery and piracy has nearly all the coastal states bordering it declaring their commitment to the implementation the ISPS Code including Ghana. However, in spite of the fact that the ISPS Code functionally requires the restriction of unauthorised persons to vessels and port facilities, the Tema Fishing Harbour is observed to be still dominated by unregulated and unchecked access of persons to the fishing harbour and vessels. Using the research instruments of mainly questionnaires and semi structured interviews through the qualitative approach, it was set to study the implementation of the ISPS Code at the Tema Fishing Harbour with the specific objectives of finding out how the code is implemented, identifying the impact of implementation and finding out the challenges confronting the implementation of the code. The findings revealed amongst others that attempt is being made to implement the ISPS Code at the Tema Fishing Harbour through the mechanisms, structures and measures mainly established in the main Port of Tema. However, whilst the study highlighted that the fishing vessel operators have not undertaken (for lack of knowledge) to implement the requirements of the ISPS Code, the factors of the limited application of the code, the commercial role of the fishing harbour, the community influence, etc have also challenged the implementation of the ISPS Code at the Tema Fishing Harbour. To this end, it is recommended among others that the Administration Authority undertakes to sensitise or educate all the applicable fishing vessel operators on the requirements and relevance of the ISPS Code, an exclusive berth be designated for only the applicable fishing vessels that fall under the coverage and the creation of an external fish market.