Background
In May 2005, the Australian Government introduced amendments to the Maritime Transport Security Act 2003 in Federal Parliament in an effort to further secure the nation's maritime and offshore industries. These amendments have led to the introduction of maritime security identity cards (MSIC) which will ensure that those working in these critical industries are subject to appropriate background checking as now occurs in the aviation industry.
As a nationally recognised form of maritime and offshore industry identification, the MSIC will distinguish the holder as having met the minimum background checking requirements. It is essential for all maritime industry workers and contractors who operate within maritime security zones (MSZ) at ports, ships and oil and gas facilities.
From 1 January 2007, all personnel requiring unmonitored access to a maritime or offshore security zone will be required to display an MSIC. A maritime of offshore security zone is designated by maritime and offshore facility operators. MSZs may be established for a range of reasons including:
- controlling the movement of people;
- providing cleared areas within the port or offshore facility environs;
- preventing interference with ships and offshore facilities; and
- restricting access to specified areas including critical installations.
The MSIC is a program similar to the Aviation Security Identification Card, program found in the aviation industry.
On 29 January 2010, the then Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Minister Albanese, announced a number of enhancements to the MSIC regime following a review of the MSIC scheme. The key changes coming out of the announcement include:
- the offences that prevent an individual from holding an MSIC have been expanded to cover additional offences including espionage, kidnapping, explosives, illegal firearms, acts of violence, fraud and dishonesty offences (from 1 July 2010);
- background checks will be conducted every two years with cards being valid for up to four years (from 1 December 2010);
- a new offence to prosecute MSIC holders who fail to advise their MSIC issuing body of changes to their criminal record (from 1 December 2010); and
- a new offence to prosecute MSIC issuing bodies who fail to suspend an MSIC at the direction of the Secretary of the Department, or fail to cancel the card if the person is convicted of a disqualifying offence or convicted of any other maritime security relevant offence and sentenced to imprisonment (from 1 December 2010).
Read more about this topic: Maritime Security Identification Card
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