OPC maintains international safe port status
Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC) was issued a new Declaration of Compliance to the Port Facility (DCIP) by the Honduran National Commission for Port Protection (CNPP) last 3 August, which maintains OPC’s status as an international safe port.
Confirming OPC’s compliance to the provisions of Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention and Part A of the International Code for the Protection of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS Code), the extension of the certification is valid until March 2025. It empowers OPC to operate as a safe harbor at an international level under the guidelines established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These guidelines allow ships that sail on international waters and dock at the terminal to facilitate their entry operations to other certified ports, especially ports in the United States of America.
The implementation of the ISPS Code, referred to in Chapter XI-2 of the agreement for the safety of human life at sea (SOLAS), focuses on physical security and guarantees protection within the container and cargo terminal general of Puerto Cortés.
In addition, OPC also complies with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) which regulates the maritime transport of dangerous goods.
OPC is also the only terminal in the region that participates in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) of the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, which requires US-bound containers to be pre-screened at their port of loading. Pre-screening cargo at their country of origin lowers security risk and cost at destination, which translates to greater agility and competitiveness for exporters that use Puerto Cortés.
OPC’s current certifications include the latest versions of ISO 9001-2015, ISO 14001-2015, and ISO 45001-2018, which guarantee the highest standards in the Company’s processes and services. OPC is the only CA-4 port, and one of the few ports in the world, that has these three comprehensive certifications. Adhering to these standards allows OPC to continuously refine its processes, achieve continuous improvement, and position Puerto Cortés as the best option in the Central American Atlantic at par with any international port in terms of competitiveness.
