KARACHI: Pathetic conditions of Maritime Ministry in Islamabad and its related departments in ports could be assessed from fact that access to International Maritime Organisation DOCS was not available to every organisation in country. 

When it was asked from Commander Pakistan Maritime Security Agency that whether information about search and rescue (SAR) plan and Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) had been properly uploaded on Global Integrated Shipping Information System, he replied that it was first time that he had heard the word 'GISIS'. Similarly, Capt. Hasan Haider who is main focal person for PQA, was when asked that how much information relating to PQA had been uploaded on GISIS, he was blank about it.

Audit team of IMO was of view that though management of DG P&S was uploading data on GISIS but focal persons in stakeholder organisations were not properly educated about uploading of this data. However, it was observed by audit that focal persons in KPT were fully aware of data which had been uploaded on GISIS in respect of KPT, informed sources disclosed. 

Global Integrated Shipping Information System consists of several subsystems which include twenty-six modules which are further divided into sub-modules dedicated to various themes and topics which include maritime security, marine casualties and accidents, port reception facilities, contact points, pollution prevention equipment and anti-fouling schemes, piracy and armed robbery, ship fuel oil consumption, ballast water management and ballast water chemicals, global SAR (Search and Rescue) plan, status of treaties, simulators, global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS), formalities connected with sign-in and sign-off, greenhouse gas emissions, information on local regulations, IMDG Code feedback, MARPOL Annex VI, evaluation of hooks, cargoes, member state audits, condition assessment scheme, test laboratories and Halon facilities, national maritime legislation, non-mandatory instruments and survey and certification etc.

During audit activity by International Maritime Organisation it was found that Qasim Saeed was main person responsible for uploading of all information on GISIS. However, he had provided windows to different organisations like KPT, PQA and PNSC. During audit it was found that information related to different flag, port and coastal state activities had not been duly uploaded on GISIS. Detail of some of such information was provided by IMO audit team.

Therefore, it has been recommended by IMO audit team that familiarisation session may be organised to train relevant staff in use of GISIS platform and related modules including other means of communication with IMO based on developed procedure.              

Focal persons must be well aware of fact that how much data pertaining to their respective organisation has been uploaded and how much remaining. Gaps needs to be identified in provision of information to IMO through GISIS and abridged as early as possible, sources added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 10 2024

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