New Rules

The Danish Maritime Authority has issued a series of new rules aimed at strengthening the security of ships and port facilities for passenger and cargo ships in domestic services.

The Danish Maritime Authority Strengthens Security of Ships

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) have issued a new notice to strengthen the security of ships and port facilities for passenger and cargo ships in domestic services. The notice lightens administrative rules and certification in Denmark

The Maritime Authority have in cooperation with the National Police (PET), the Defense Command and the Coastal Directorate altered the rules for security of ships operating in domestic services.

The new rules will both strengthen security and better the daily work. The ships will no longer be certified, surveyed and approved by the EU Regulation on enhancing ship and port facility security (ISPS Code).

Crews and shipowners will instead go through procedures to assess security threats to the ship. It also means that the level of security of ships is the same as other means of transport such as trains, city and port buses.

The new rules apply only to passenger and cargo ships engaged exclusively in Danish domestic services who as are required to have a safety management system in accordance with the ISM Code (International Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention). The new rules have been effective since 11 March 2013.

Source: Danish Maritime Authority