January 04, 2006

Text of article by Artur Korriku entitled "Counterterrorism at Durres port, security force starts work" published by Albanian newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare on 4 January; subheadings as published

The Port Security Force [FSP] started work yesterday at Durres seaport. It is a new body, whose duty will be to defend the port of Durres from possible terrorist attacks. A symbolic ceremony was held yesterday on this occasion, attended by officials of the port authorities, Ministry of Transport, and police. Deputy Transport Minister Armando Teliti said in his address at the ceremony that "the activity of the FSP will put the Durres seaport in the group of the safest ports."

Structure
A US Coast Guard report published about 16 months ago said that the Durres port did not meet the standards of the International Maritime Organization [IMO]. The report put the port among the world's 20 least safe ports. Prompted by this report and the advice that it offered, the Albanian government reacted immediately and decided to set up the FSP. In cooperation with international experts, the government defined the duties and size of the force. This force's tasks include providing non-stop security and protection to Durres seaport (which is considered a facility of strategic importance) from possible terrorist attacks.

The heads of the new force have been trained abroad in order to carry out their duties as efficiently as possible. After returning from training, they immediately started recruiting staff. The force has 78 members. This body comes under the authority of the Durres Port Authority [APD] and provides security for the entire site of the Durres port, including the surrounding area, but excluding the ferry terminal. The force is situated in one of the buildings close to the APD offices. This building has been refurbished and now houses the offices for the staff and the operations room, which is fitted with communications equipment and a map of the port containing details of the force's duties.

Cooperation
This security force will cooperate at all times with the port's police commissariat and captaincy. The force is armed with handguns, which its members can only use if a Level-3 Security Alert is declared.

The most delicate duty of this force is to guard oil depots and oil tankers, which could be targets of terrorist attacks.

Source: SEE Security Monitor