Port Safety, Security, and Economic Objectives
Module 6: Port Safety and Security
Safety: Concerns technical risks directly related to industrial activity, such as fire and explosions, or those related to labor activity.
Security: Addresses risks involving terrorists or delinquents. In Spanish, the term ‘protection’ encompasses all these activities. These are undesirable situations, like technical risks, but with manifested intentionality. Examples include dangerous goods, maneuvers, stevedoring, internal traffic, and cargo handling equipment.
Classification:
- Labor
- Police
- Industrial
- Maritime
- Environmental
- Dangerous Goods
Port Hinterland, Vorland, and Umland
Hinterland: Refers to a region or internal district next to a river or port, where exports are situated and imports are distributed.
Vorland/Foreland: Represents the group of countries, regions, or zones (origins and destinations), and maritime seaways of cargoes passing through the ports.
Umland: Is the macro and socioeconomic environment adjacent to the service port area.
Economic Objectives in Ports
The three main economic objectives in ports are:
Macroeconomic Objective: Ports aim to reach maximum traffic and diversification levels to increase sales and improve profits.
Sectorial Objective: Ports are an element of the IPD (Integrated Port Distribution) chain, from door to door.
Microeconomic Objectives: Ports seek to maximize their local, regional, and national economic impact on economic operators, generating employment, wealth, and value.
Port Services
General Services: These are common services owned by the Port Authority that benefit port users without requiring a specific application. Examples include:
- Management, coordination, and control of port traffic (maritime and land).
- Coordination and control of operations associated with basic and commercial services.
- Signaling, beaconing, and other navigation aids.
- Surveillance, security, and police in common areas.
- Lighting of common areas.
- Cleaning of common areas (land and water).
- Emergency prevention and control services.
Basic Services: These are essential port services that enable port traffic operations, such as:
- Pilotage service.
- Technical-nautical services.
- Passage services.
- Goods handling and transfer services.
- Waste reception services generated by ships.
Commercial Services: These are port or non-port commercial activities allowed in the port area that are not considered port services. Examples include:
- Provisioning.
- Fuel supply.
- Naval repairs (shipyard).
- Divers.
- Deratization.
- Crew boat transport.
Port Competition
Interport: Competition between different ports to attract specific traffic.
Intraport: Competition among operators within the same port to secure specific traffic.
Security and Safety Management
For these reasons, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) established the ISPS (International Ship & Port Facility Security) Code.
ISPS Code: This is an international measure compulsory for all countries working under the supervision of the IMO, allowing countries to establish their own criteria.