Caribbean Cement Company Limited yesterday staged a security exercise dubbed Operation Bright Star at each of its three ports in east Kingston, and identified a few weaknesses that needed to be addressed.

The exercises comprised three mock situations involving potential bomb and explosive threats to the ports, and according to Capt Nicholas Bayliss of the Port Authority, shortcomings for improvement in communications, coordination, resource availability and responsiveness were identified.

The exercises, which started at 9:00 yesterday morning, were completed in 90 minutes, the company said in a release.

Yesterday’s security exercise was a requirement by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for International Ship and Port Facilities Security (ISPS) certification.

Under the ISPS Code, all ports must have a security plan for preventing and responding to terrorist activity. All of the three Carib Cement ports were ISPS certified in August 2004.

Each port is also required to have a full exercise and quarterly drills each year to test the responsiveness of security systems and personnel. Operation Bright Star was approved by the Port Authority of Jamaica and involved the participation of the Jamaica Defence Force, Coast Guard, Fire Brigade, Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). Observers included port agents Transocean and Grace Kennedy Shipping and Caribbean Maritime Institute.