Ships facing restrictions on launching small boats

Passenger ships will soon only be allowed to launch small boats with passengers if the boat’s destination port is ISPS approved.

ISPS is an abbreviation for International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, a set of regulations intended to increase security at ports and on ships.

A new proposal from the Ministry of Trade calls for a ban on sailing with small boats in Faroese waters, unless the purpose is to transfer tourists to or from an ISPS-approved port.

Fourteen ports in the Faroes are ISPS-approved.

The proposal is based on the safety at sea Act, which is administered by the Faroese Maritime Authority.

Hans Johannes á Brúgv, the head of the Faroese Maritime Authority, says it is not uncommon for foreign passenger ships to launch small boats with passengers. The problem is that the boat operators may not be familiar with Faroese sea currents, which can be a serious safety concern.

No such accident has happened yet, but the Maritime Authority wants to make sure it stays that way.

The Maritime Authority has received reports and photos of boats launched from cruise ships to sail passengers to e.g. Mykines.

The new regulations will apply to passenger ships with a gross tonnage of 100 or more.

ISPS-approved ports register all activity, including people and cargo, going in and out of the port.

Translated by prosa.fo