A unique training system for international security training has been developed by the HPTI (Hamburg Port Training Institute) to cater for new industry demands. After the ISPS training business has been very slow since July 1st, 2004, it has recently picked up and HPTI increasingly receive enquiries about ISPS training beyond PFSO, SSO and CSO. In order to satisfy these requirements too, HPTI has developed the Modular Concept for the Development of Competencies in Maritime Security.

This modular concept allows tailor-made specific training for coast guard, port police and government shipping personnel that do not fall under the ISPS code, for port and terminal operators –both offshore and onshore-, for educators and for other security experts as well as for port and shipping security personnel.

The concept is based on the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and on the relevant EU directives and regulations. In the Code, there are many duties and obligations spelled out for a variety of actors. For the Port Facility Security Officer, the Ship Security Officer and the (Shipping) Company Security Officer training and certification requirements are explicitly described. For all other functions and relevant

persons, no training or competency requirements are stated. HPTI has scrutinized the Code and designed training modules for all functions, duties and responsibilities. The Germanischer Lloyd has certified the individual modules; therefore, any training that is conducted with these modules is automatically an international certified course and the participants will receive, after passing an assessment, a relevant certificate.

FIRST ISPS SECURITY COURSE SUCCESSFUL
The first ISPS security-training course using the new certified modular training concept started in August. Saudi engineers of Saudi Aramco, who work as Marine Consultants for Petro Rabigh, a new petrochemical industry park and chemical port north of Jeddah on the Red Sea Coast, followed an intensive program in port facility security. Petro Rabigh is a joint venture between the largest Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical of Japan.

At home the participants of the training course are responsible for designing and implementing new security and safety systems and processes for handling chemical goods; 20 million tons per annum are envisaged. As their company’s previous experience is only in operating oil export terminals, they are very interested in understanding how established international terminals handle these commodities. Therefore, their training in Hamburg consists to a large part of practical instruction and site visits to all kinds of cargo handling facilities. Due to the diversity of facilities in the port, Hamburg is the ideal venture for such training and HPTI’s new modular security training concept suits Port Rabigh’s training requirements to the point.