Legislation aimed at stepping up sea port security was approved by MPs yesterday.

Minister without Portfolio Zane DeSilva, standing in for Transport Minister Ewart Brown, presented the Maritime Security (Harbour Area) (Restricted Zones) Order 2010 in the House of Assembly.

He said the legislation amended a 2004 order setting out restricted zones in harbour areas to protect life and property against sabotage, subversion or other terrorist acts.

Mr. DeSilva said the zones — which come into force 30 minutes before a ship docks and remain in place until 30 minutes after they dock — are created to reduce the likelihood of a security incident occurring and ensure the safety of vessels, port facilities and the public.

"Bermuda's ports are unique in that they are multi-purpose facilities and often used for passenger traffic and cargo discharge," he said.

"The proposed order also seeks to include Heritage Wharf, the new cruise ship pier in Dockyard, as a restricted zone for the first time."

Other areas with restricted zones are the ship terminals at Ordnance Island and Penno's Wharf in St. George's; the number one, five and six ship terminals in Hamilton; the cargo terminal at Hamilton docks; the ship terminals at King's Wharf and Commercial Berth in Dockyard; and the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre at Fort George.

Mr. DeSilva said: "This order is intended to define the physical perimeters and further recognise the need for standardised security protocols within all of Bermuda's sea ports, such that we remain compliant with international requirements."

Opposition leader Kim Swan said the order omitted the oil docks, which were also a very important harbour and docking facility.

He asked if closed-circuit television cameras were operating in the areas referred to by the Minister.

"We know the only way in which guns, which we have a major problem with in this Country, [get in] is through those major ports. We could kill two birds with one stone if we have CCTV cameras to make sure that we are monitoring these areas."

Mr. DeSilva said appropriate sea port security was in place at all the zones and cameras were the second line of defence.

UBP MP John Barritt asked if everyone would be subject to the improved security checks, following a report in The Royal Gazette about the Premier allegedly telling HM Customs he didn't appreciate his courier mail being checked.

Mr. DeSilva said: "I think we all know that that has nothing to do with this order."

Mr. DeSilva also presented the Marine Board Amendment Act 2010, which passed unopposed.

He explained that the bill would allow the Transport Minister to grant exemptions to orders restricting or prohibiting the movement of ships.

"An example would be those vessels engaged in the environmental monitoring programme which will be undertaken in 2010 and 2011 in the vicinity of the Heritage Wharf pier," he said.

Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons asked whether Bermuda had checked its shipping register following a New York Times story earlier this month, which claimed that Bermudian companies were insuring vessels illegally shipping military-related cargo to Iran's Defence Ministry.

Mr. DeSilva replied: "We will certainly have that investigated and checked."