SIERRA LEONE PORTS AUTHORITY ADVERTORIAL
Security and safety at the Freetown Port, Queen Elizabeth II Quay, is essential to catalysing national development. It’s surprise, therefore, that they are the watch words of the result-oriented General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Dr. Abdulai Fofana.
Since he took office, management, under his astute leadership, has made considerable inroads in security and safety at the Freetown Port and other network ports of the Authority, namely the river ports of Nitti and Pepel.
These developments could not be unconnected to the following: the Authority’s coordinated security and safety plans with stakeholders in the port operations on maritime security and safety; and review of clearance processes at the Freetown Port, vis-à-vis physical security and safety.
Upon assuming office, the Dr. Fofana-led management held series of consultative meetings with stakeholders, including the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Sierra Leone Police, and the Navy wing of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. During these meetings legion of security issues were discussed: operating procedure on the provision and management of security at the port, the role of SLPA’s Investigation Branch on incidences/security matters at the port, entrance of security personnel into port, training for all security personnel working and/or assigned to the port, the mode of un-stuffing containers, deployment of armed personnel aboard vessels at the port and host of others.
During one of these engagements, Dr. Fofana urged stakeholders to complement each other’s work in a bid to ensure safer and secured clearance processes at the port in accordance with international best practices.
“Security at the port is key in the clearance processes due to external consequences on ports that do not comply with international security best practices,” he averred.
He commended his management team for the considerable strides made to upgrade security at the port, referencing the Authority’s security pass mark on the International Port Security assessment few years ago.
The Bio-Fofana-led administration inherited a port security structure that was in urgent need for reforms. Against this backdrop, a committee headed by SLPA Deputy General-Manager, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio, was set-up to review security plan to match up with international port security and safety.
Mr. Bio has urged stakeholders to review all port activities relative to security, including the existing clearance processes at the port, taking into consideration best practices in international security and safety.
SLPA is a signatory to International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. So far, the Authority has made considerable strides in security arrangements at the Freetown Port and other network ports to match up with International Security best practices. As a result of these strides, the Sierra Leone Ports Authority was awarded a pass mark by officials of United States Coast Guards for international security compliance.
SLPA Security Manager, Eustace Rogers, urged stakeholders to maintain the port’s security status quo. He warned against the port being put into the World Maritime Advisory List, a situation that would attract major premium on ships coming into the country.
In an emergency security engagement, stakeholders discussed the provision of security at the port, un-stuffing of containers, over boarding on vessels and unaccredited security/personnel at the port. After intensive deliberations, the meeting made the following recommendations:
• Formation of standard operating procedure on the provision and management of security at the port;
• Investigation branch of SLPA to follow up with incidences/security matters reported to the Sierra Leone Police for investigation and prosecution where necessary;
• That all security personnel entering the port must be accredited by SLPA;
• That a correspondence be sent to the Ministers of Defense and Internal Affairs informing the respective Ministers on the standard operating procedures and access control mechanism applicable to military and police personnel entering the port ( restricted)
• That security training be conducted for all security personnel working and/or assigned to the port;
• That un-stuffing of container should be done in the presence of SLPA,NRA, the Consignee and the Agent and any other such agency representative as the manifest of the cargo demands;
• That armed personnel be deployed on vessels anchored in Freetown waters until they sail off into the high seas;
• That SLPA informs the Sierra Leone Navy on vessels that need armed personnel (military and police) on board;
• That all Clearing Agents should be registered and licensed with ACFA and fully attired in PPEs, in possession of valid Port Passes to gain entrance into the port;
• That ITS submits monthly security report to SLPA for ISPS monitoring analysis;
Update on Ports Authority
• Sierra Leone delegation lead to the Annual Council meeting of the Ports Management of West and Central Africa (PMWCA) at Cameron, Dr. Abdulai Fofana, who also doubles as General-Manager of the Sierra Leone Port Authority, moderated a round-table discussion on the theme: “The Implementation of new International Recommendations in terms of Port Cyber Security.” Dr. Fofana intimated that despite the considerable benefits digitalization has offered to port management and shipping process in the supply chain, profitability and sustainability, ports management all over the world should be mindful of susceptibility to cyberattacks, as the process involves mass amount of data sharing. He, therefore, encouraged ports managements in west and central Africa to protect employees from such digital ambushes, including theft of sensitive and critical data, robbery of cargo and goods, illegal trafficking, system damages and other harmful actions on the digital environment. He said any attack of such nature could force the port to close or interrupt operations. He cited the attack of Maesk Line in 2017 which caused disruptions at 76 port terminals worldwide, sustaining financial loss in the region of US$300 million from revenue loss, IT restoration costs.
• In January 2022, United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ambassador David Reimer engaged stakeholders at the Freetown Port, Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Cline Town in Freetown. His visit to the Freetown Port and engagement with stakeholders was to familiarize himself with operations of the port, being a key economic driver in the economy of the country. Stakeholders explained the port operational processes and highlighted challenges. The engagement was part of the Authority’s rebranding of the port.
• The delegation lead of the National Port Authority (NPA) of the Republic of Liberia to Sierra Leone, Mr. Michael Davies, said the Freetown Port is a force to reckon with in the sub-region due to phenomenal reforms in the port operational processes. Leading a 29-man delegation visit to Sierra Leone, Mr. Davies, who is also Deputy Managing Director in Charge of Operations, intimated that their visit was to share experiences and promote shipping and maritime activities in the sub-region. According to Deputy Managing Director, their Sierra Leonean counterpart has made significant strides in marine security and safety in port operational processes. He referenced the construction of the multipurpose terminal with modern gantry cranes, CCTV cameras in every corner of the port, reduction in vessel turnaround time, decongestion of traffic system at the Freetown Port and digitalization of harbour and security departments as critical development strides that deserve to be applauded. The visit is a win-win situation as the two sister ports will benefit from each other and create a platform for experience-sharing. SLPA management would reciprocate the visitation within the shortest possible time.
• A high-powered delegation from the West African State of The Gambia visited management of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority on what was described as due diligence check and experience sharing on port concessions. The delegation included the Managing Director of The Gambia Port Authority, Mr. Ousman M Jobartheh; Mod K Ceesay, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport & Aviation; Ebrima Ceesay, Secretary to the Cabinet Office; and Halifa Nyang, Country Manager, Bollore.
Bollore Country Manager, Captain Ferbijan Kokan, facilitated the visit. The visit had the key goal of engaging management of the Sierra Leone Port Authority on privatising core port functions to a private operator, considering the latter’s experience in port concessions.
Deputy General-Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio, said the Sierra Leone Port Authority concession was necessitated by the desire of the government of Sierra Leone to improve efficiency and productivity vis-à-vis port operations. He said privatization of core port operations at the Freetown Port to private operators had yielded huge dividends in machinery and human development and correspondingly increased efficiency and productivity, referencing the construction of the multipurpose terminal at the Freetown Port by multinational company Bollore.
• Management of the Sierra Leone Port Authority held an emergency meeting with stakeholders in the port operations on port international security and safety. Security at the Freetown Port, Queen Elizabeth II Quay is a national concern giving recent reports of few security irregularities, including over boarding and discovering of illegal items in containers. SLPA management urged the need to review existing security protocols at the port, and their immediate adoption.
• The Sierra Leone Ports Authority management engaged the Commissioner-General of National Revenue Authority (NRA) and team on goods clearance processes, port security and safety at the Freetown Port, Queen Elizabeth II Quay. The SLPA management looked at the roles of Customs Department and the complementary role of SLPA in the clearing processes at the port. Management also highlighted the significance of security at the port, adding that it was fundamental in the clearance of goods at the quay due to external consequences on ports that do not comply with international security best practices. Furthermore, the considerable strides made by management to upgrade security at the port were applauded, referencing the Authority’s security pass mark on the International Port Security assessment few years ago. NRA Commissioner-General, Dr Samuel Jibao, opined that maintaining best practices and compliance in security at the port was doable and urged stakeholders in the port operations to prioritized both physical and economic security.
• Works on the construction of an administrative office at Nitti Port, Sierra Rutile, is ongoing. The office, when completed, would create a platform for the presence of the Sierra Leone Port Authority along the Sherbro River on the south coast of Sierra Leone.
• SLPA management is currently rehabilitating the Targrin Ferry Terminal, which was abandoned by previous administration.
