U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo. To view larger photo or download, visit DVIDS at: https://goo.gl/56Lupj
HONOLULU — A U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security team completed a bilateral engagement with Maldivian officials in August.
This engagement involved sharing best practices and visiting with the Maldives Transport Authority to observe the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code at three port facilities in the capitol of Male and south in Addu Atoll.
In 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard developed the International Port Security (IPS) Program to reinforce the implementation of the ISPS Code. Maldives became signatory to the ISPS Code in 2004. The ISPS Program seeks to reduce risk to U.S. maritime interests, including U.S. ports and ships, and to facilitate secure maritime trade globally.
“Everyone has security responsibilities in our global economy," said Lt. Cmdr. Zeke Lyons, IPS liaison officer, U.S. Coast Guard Activities Far East Division. "The Coast Guard appreciates Maldives’s invitation and their commitment to improving port security.”
Under the auspices of this program, a U.S. Coast Guard IPS team conducts an annual visit to assess the effectiveness of seaport anti-terrorism measures and provides recommendations to government officials to reduce the risk of a maritime security incidents and impacts to the global supply chain. The IPS program is designed to assist seaports in overcoming security challenges in a dynamic and ever changing threat environment.
In the Asia-Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Activities Far East unit, located in Tokyo, coordinates with more than 40 countries to execute these bilateral engagements. The U.S. Coast Guard is committed to promoting and facilitating safe and secure maritime trade.
Maldives is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean approximately 4,800 miles from Japan.