Maritime security: The United States Coast Guard validates the Port of Dakar's compliance with the ISPS Code

The Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD) is consolidating its strategic position on the Atlantic coast. From July 6 to 10, 2026, a mission of experts from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) was deployed to Senegal to assess and strengthen the security system of the national maritime infrastructure. For five days, PAD staff, representatives from the National Maritime Affairs Agency (ANAM), and various security agencies participated in training and refresher sessions focused on port security. In parallel, the American delegation conducted rigorous on-site inspections, specifically targeting Pier 3 of the PAD and the facilities at the port of Bargny-Sendou.

At the conclusion of this evaluation, the USCG experts expressed their "complete satisfaction with the quality of the facilities and the effectiveness of the security system at the Port of Dakar (PAD)," confirming its full compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. While the Port of Dakar received a full commendation, the American mission nevertheless formulated "a few recommendations regarding the security system at the Port of Bargny Sendou" in order to further enhance its security. The work concluded on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Pullman Hotel in Dakar with an official ceremony for the presentation of port management certificates, co-chaired by Mr. Waly Diouf Bodiang, Director General of the PAD, and Mr. Bécaye Diop, Director General of the ANAM (National Agency for Maritime Affairs).

The strategic and commercial impact of the ISPS standard

This American recognition goes far beyond mere technical validation. Adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2002 in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the ISPS Code has established itself since its entry into force on July 1, 2004, as "the global benchmark for maritime security." It imposes stringent criteria on international ports, including a Security Plan Information Platform (SPIP), a certified Security Officer, strict access controls, and three levels of protocols for responding to threats.

Today, obtaining and maintaining this certification is a vital commercial imperative, as ISPS compliance has become a prerequisite for accessing global shipping routes; a non-compliant port risks being excluded from international trade. For Senegal, this success reinforces its economic ambitions by confirming the Port of Dakar's (PAD) role as a leading port hub and the safest platform on the West African coast.