HMM gets country's first ship security plan

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co,. Ltd. has been judged the best company for shipping service security and vessel security.
An official from Hyundai Merchant Marine Co,. Ltd. said, "Our cargo ship, 'Hyundai Power', obtained ship security plan approval from Panama as the first domestic shipping company according to ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security).
The IMO (International Maritime Organization) provided the ISPS code for governments, shipping companies, port patrol ships and port facilities after 9.11.
ISPS applies to passenger ships for international shipping, cargo ships over 500 tons, movable ocean structures and international port facilities, etc.
To this, international shipping vessels and ocean structures should approve ship security plans according to ISPS regulations first. After that they should obtain an international security certificate through a security test. ISPS goes into effect from July 1, 2004.
Panamanian vessels [rs2]that fall under ISPS number 6,500 world wide. Of those 160 are Korean owned. A Hyundai Merchant Marine is now the first in Korea to come up with a security plan.
It was expected that the company would undergo some difficulties for getting approval because Hyundai Merchant Marine was examined only by Phoenix Vessel Service (PVS), a Panamanian authorized agency.
The official said, "This obtainment for ship security plans was easy due to educational programs about security and safety."