PORT Klang will not impose any extra charges for enhanced security measures required by the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Security Code that will come into force in July.

"Whatever costs of installing and mobilising safety equipment will be borne by the individual terminals, namely Northport and Westport," said Port Klang Authority assistant general manager (regulatory) Capt David Padman.

He was responding to queries by some industry players who wanted to know if a "security surcharge" would be levied on port users when the compulsory ruling takes effect on July 1.

"As far as Port Klang is concerned we consider this as part of the port's services," he told representatives from foreign and local shipping lines at an ISPS briefing in Port Klang last week. "There will be no 'security' charge as such."

Padman said Port Klang already had most safety and security measures in place, such as the issuing of port passes, fencing around the terminal areas and the Vessel Traffic Management System capable of tracking approaching ships.

In an immediate response, Port Klang Shipping Agencies Association (PKSAA) president welcomed PKA's announcement, saying that other Malaysian ports should also not impose any additional security charges.PKSAA president M. Gopalkrishnan said agents were concerned Northport and Westport would start levying such fees as a cost"recovery measure to provide the safety manpower and apparatus.

"However it has been made clear that this will not be the case and we would like to thank the port authority."Ensuring the security and safety of the port, ships and cargoes should be a service provided by the terminals in the first place."It is part of their responsibility," he said. The ISPS Code requires port facilities to have audited security plans and procedures in place to deal with threats, following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

Since then ports and vessels have been identified as potential targets of attack by those groups, resulting in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) enacting the regulation. IMO has made it clear that no extension date would be given after the July 1 deadline, after which non-compliant ports and ships risk being labelled as "high risk" entities.

He added that during their three-day stopover here, the sailors would be involved in a couple of community service work such as visits to orphanages and an old folks home.

This would have possible negative impacts on their businesses if ships decide not to call at such ports or if ports stop such ships from calling. Industry players feel any extra or increase in port charges would cause Malaysian ports to further lose its competitiveness, at a time when neighbouring ports are going the extra mile to woo mainlines and increase ship calls.

This was seen in the recent controversy surrounding the proposed increase in marine charges at Port Klang, to which the shipping community vigorously opposed.Industry sources say the cost of preparing the security plans and training port personnel can arrange between RM2mil and RM10mil, depending on the consultants chosen and the port facility itself.

Meanwhile, Padman said the approved port security plans for Port Klang would be ready by April."We have just done the assessments plans for Westport and Star Cruises. We should be completing that for Northport and the Kapar power station jetty by this week. "We are aiming to hand in the assessments to the Marine Department -by the middle of this month. "The port area facility security officers and port security officers have also been chosen and trained," he said, adding that Port Klang was well on its way to complying with the Code.

West port head of fire, security and safety department senior manager Mahat Tumin said extra CCTVs would be installed at the container terminal entrance.He said the port was also working towards getting things ready by June.