Boosting port safety in Madagascar

Exercise provides training

MADAGASCAR: Port security personnel in Madagascar have completed a full-scale exercise and specialised training in Mahajanga to boost the safety and security of the country’s major ports. 

Held from 5 to 9 May, the workshop was led by IMO as part of the EU-funded Port Security Project. It focused on strengthening port security through drills and exercises aligned with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. 

Twenty-four participants took part, including Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) from key ports, and representatives from the Port and Maritime Agency (APMF), the Gendarmerie Nationale and the National Police. 

The training combined theoretical instruction with hands-on sessions to enhance skills in planning, conducting and evaluating security drills. The curriculum followed the APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills and Exercises for Port Facilities, with emphasis on ISPS Code Part A requirements. 

Participants designed and carried out a full-scale exercise at the port of Mahajanga, involving all stakeholders as well as Customs and local firefighting services. The exercise tested coordination, implementation of port facility security plans, and operational readiness. 

The workshop supports Madagascar’s ongoing efforts to comply with international standards, while strengthening port security infrastructure across the region. 

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