Published: April 17, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia’s Maritime Authority staged its first simultaneous security exercise across the country’s two major ports Wednesday, testing whether agencies can coordinate a rapid response to maritime threats as dangers in the Gulf of Guinea intensify.
The drill, conducted under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, required port facilities at both locations to raise their security posture from standard to elevated alert status. The Liberia National Police, Seaport Police, Immigration Service, Fire Service, Coast Guard and Ministry of Health ambulance units all deployed personnel on land and at sea.
Deputy Commissioner for Domestic Vessel Registration and Safety John F. Harvey said the exercise was designed to stress-test Port Facility Security Plans and expose gaps in command, control and communication before a real threat demands them.
Authorities said overall performance was commendable, citing coordination among the participating agencies as a particular strength.
The ISPS Code has been in force globally since July 1, 2004. Liberia’s Maritime Authority said this marks the first time it has run the exercise nationwide and simultaneously, rather than at individual facilities in isolation.
The authority said it plans to expand future drills to include terminal operators and shipping lines, two categories absent from Wednesday’s exercise.
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