SLPHA Improves Security Measures at Freetown Port

The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) says it has significantly strengthened security and safety measures at the Freetown Port, with new procedures and surveillance systems aimed at protecting staff, cargo, vessels and port users.

Speaking during a programme, Principal Media Officer at the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority, Arun Amomokambu, said the Authority had introduced a range of measures to ensure that the port remains safe, secure and ready for business.

He explained that security and safety at the port have improved considerably compared to previous years, noting that the Authority has intensified its efforts to ensure that ships, cargo and personnel operating within the port are adequately protected.

According to him, the installation of additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras is among the major interventions undertaken by the Authority. The cameras form part of a broader surveillance system designed to monitor activities within the port and strengthen the Authority’s ability to detect and respond to security threats.

He said access control procedures have also been upgraded to meet required standards, stressing that people seeking access to the port can no longer simply enter the facility without following established security procedures.

“Nowadays, when you access the port, you cannot just come in and do whatever you want. There are a number of procedures that you have to follow,” he explained.

Amomokambu said the measures are particularly important because the Freetown Port is a major commercial gateway where ships, cargo owners, workers, businesses and other port users interact on a daily basis.

He noted that individuals and companies seeking to conduct business within the port are required to comply with the established access and security requirements before being allowed into restricted areas.

The SLPHA has also taken steps to strengthen the physical security of the port, including improvements to perimeter fencing. According to Amomokambu, the Authority has been addressing weaknesses along the port’s boundaries that previously created opportunities for unauthorized persons to gain access.

He said the Authority has also increased physical patrols within the port and complemented them with surveillance systems to provide wider security coverage.

The security arrangements, he explained, extend beyond the immediate port facilities, with surveillance coverage reaching strategic areas around the port environment.

He said the Authority has installed cameras and other surveillance equipment covering significant sections of the port area, with monitoring extending towards the Cape Lighthouse and other locations within the wider port environment.

Amomokambu further disclosed that security coverage stretches towards the Eastern Police area and as far as Wellington, demonstrating the Authority’s efforts to establish a broader security network around port operations.

He said the security system is not limited to CCTV cameras, but includes access controls, physical patrols, perimeter security and other procedures intended to provide multiple layers of protection.

The Principal Media Officer said the Authority’s security arrangements have also been subjected to external assessments, including assessments conducted in line with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

He explained that the United States Coast Guard and other international maritime security assessors have, on several occasions, assessed the port’s security arrangements and identified areas requiring further improvement.

“These assessments help us identify areas where we have improved and areas where we still need to improve,” he said.

The ISPS Code is an international security framework designed to establish a standardized approach to identifying and addressing security threats affecting ships and port facilities.

Amomokambu said the Authority takes the recommendations from such assessments seriously and continues to work on identified gaps.

He acknowledged that security at a busy port is not a one-time exercise, as the port community continues to evolve and new challenges emerge.

“The port community is evolving every day, and because of that, we need to improve every day,” he said.

He maintained that although significant progress has been recorded, the Authority is not claiming that all security challenges have been eliminated.

Instead, he said the SLPHA is committed to continuous improvement, with the objective of maintaining a secure and efficient environment for maritime and commercial activities.

The security measures also come against the background of concerns previously raised about unauthorized access and interference with cargo and port activities.

Amomokambu referred to instances in which members of the public had raised concerns over alleged interference with goods arriving through the port, including a case that attracted attention on social media after a woman made a public post concerning her experience.

He suggested that such concerns underline the importance of maintaining strict access-control systems and ensuring that only authorized persons are allowed into sensitive areas of the port.

The SLPHA says the combination of modern surveillance technology, stronger perimeter controls, physical patrols and stricter access procedures is intended to reduce unauthorized activity and improve confidence among shipping companies, importers, exporters and other stakeholders.

The Authority’s position is that a secure port is essential to maintaining the confidence of the international shipping community and ensuring that Sierra Leone remains an attractive destination for maritime commerce.

As port activities continue to expand, the SLPHA says it will continue reviewing its security systems, responding to recommendations from international assessments and strengthening measures designed to protect people, ships, cargo and port infrastructure.

The Authority has therefore emphasized that security remains an ongoing responsibility rather than a completed project, with further improvements expected as technology, maritime operations and the wider port community continue to evolve.