On Monday, August 18, the Regional Workshop: Port Facility Security Assessment” began in Managua. Organized by the Central American Maritime Transport Commission (COCATRAM) and sponsored by the Chilean Embassy in Nicaragua, the event is being carried out in direct collaboration with the Chilean Navy’s General Directorate of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR).
The activity, which is part of the Program of Specific Activities Abroad (PAEE) of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will take place from August 18 to 22 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in the Nicaraguan capital. The workshop aims to strengthen the technical capabilities of national officers from COCATRAM member countries—Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama—in maritime and port security in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) standards.
During the opening session, COCATRAM Executive Director Otto Noack and Director of Training and Education Hugo López Sánchez gave welcoming remarks. Representing the Chilean Embassy in Nicaragua was Minister Counselor and chargé d’affaires René Ruidíaz, who highlighted Chile’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in maritime security.
Two experts from DIRECTEMAR (the Chilean Navy), Lieutenant Commander Francisco Ortiz Besoain and First Lieutenant Francisco Jélvez Echeverría, will teach the workshop and lead the theoretical and practical sessions throughout the week.
The agenda covers key topics such as:
- Introduction to the ISPS Code
- Guiding Principles of Maritime Security
- Risk and threat assessment for port facilities
- Methodologies for developing the Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP)
- Development and presentation of Port Facility Security Assessments (PFSA)
The event will conclude on Friday, August 22, with group presentations of the assessments developed during the workshop and a closing ceremony attended by all participants.
This initiative reaffirms COCATRAM’s commitment to ensuring the security of regional maritime transport, promoting international standards and technical cooperation among its member countries. Similarly, it highlights DIRECTEMAR’s valuable contribution in regard to its experience in port security.
#PBIP #ISPS #EstrategiaMaritima #Puertos #Centroamérica
