Delegates from the Canadian Senate tour Ports & Free Zones

"We appreciate your focus on security," the delegation leader, Senator Colin Kenny said, after lengthy talks with DP World officials. "Our main concern is about security issues, including ensuring the security net at Canada's ports works well."

DP World - which is part of the Dubai World holding company - operates Vancouver Port's Centerm terminal through its subsidiary P&O Ports Canada Inc.

Just a week ago, Dubai World Chairman Sultan bin Sulayem officially opened Centerm's newly expanded terminal, and on Monday he received Senator Kenny and the accompanying delegation, at his corporate headquarters in Dubai. Present at the meeting was DP World CEO, Mohammed Sharaf.

Mr Bin Sulayem reiterated DP World's commitment to security as a baseline service for customers. "We are business people and we recognise the important part security plays for our customers and for the communities in which we operate," he said. "We are not going to gamble our reputation by taking any risk when it comes to security and safety of our terminals."

Pointing to the fact that DP World became the first global terminal operator to receive Lloyd's Register's ISO 28000:2005 security certification, Mr Sharaf said, "Internationally accepted standards underpin all of DP World's internal and external security initiatives. We're working towards a similar security certification throughout our network of terminals, and a priority will be our ports in Vancouver and Caucedo in the Dominican Republic, both gateways to the United States."

Lloyds' Register Quality Assurance, an independent international auditing body, audited DP World for compliance with the international standard ISO/PAS 28000:2005 at both the corporate head office in Dubai, UAE, and its chosen pilot site, Djibouti Container Terminal.

The Canadian delegation comprised members of the Senate Committee of National Security and Defence, including senators and defence officers, as well as the Canadian Ambassador to the UAE.

They toured DP World's Jebel Ali terminal for a first-hand inspection of the security measures in place.

During their talks at the DP World head office in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, the Canadians received detailed briefings from senior officials from DP world, Dubai Customs and Dubai Police on the security situation in Dubai, especially in and around its two ports.

As a consequence of DP World's adoption and implementation of the standard, its network of ports will have the ability to effectively implement mechanisms and processes to address any security vulnerabilities at strategic and operational levels, as well as establish preventive action plans.

All terminals will also be required to continually assess security measurements in place to both protect its business interests and ensure compliance with international regulatory requirements such as the ISPS Code and other international supply chain security initiatives.