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ISPS

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) was established to enhance maritime security following the 9/11 attacks, focusing on preventing terrorist threats to ships and ports. It mandates compliance standards for passenger ships and cargo vessels over 500 GT, involving assessments, planning, and certifications to ensure security measures are in place. The code outlines various security levels, responsibilities for ship security officers, and requirements for training and drills to maintain a secure maritime environment.

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32 views5 pages

ISPS

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) was established to enhance maritime security following the 9/11 attacks, focusing on preventing terrorist threats to ships and ports. It mandates compliance standards for passenger ships and cargo vessels over 500 GT, involving assessments, planning, and certifications to ensure security measures are in place. The code outlines various security levels, responsibilities for ship security officers, and requirements for training and drills to maintain a secure maritime environment.

Uploaded by

Trần Tuấn Thắng
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ISPS – The International Ship and Port Facility

Security Code
29 Feb, 2016 by Admin

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) is an International
code that was conceived following the September 11th 2001 terrorists attacks in the
USA. It primary purpose is to identify and counter any terrorist threat to the Maritime
Industry particularly against ships and ports. The code also serve’s to improve security
against armed robbery, theft and piracy.
The ISPS code was enacted via an amendment to the Convention of the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS) and can be found in Chapter XI (2) of SOLAS – ‘Special Measures to
Enhance Maritime Security.’ Chapter XI was amended to accommodate ISPS, Chapter
XI (1) now being ‘Special measures to enhance Maritime safety.’ It applies to the
following vessels;
• All passenger ships.
• All cargo vessels over 500 GT.

ISPS establishes mandatory minimum standards that the shipping and port industries
must achieve in order to comply with it. When a port or ship reaches the
required standard it is said to be ‘compliant with ISPS’. Non-compliant ships can be
prevented from sailing from or entering ports.Likewise some countries will not accept
ships that have sailed from non-compliant ports.
Ships and Ports are assessed for compliance through a process of
• Assessment
• Planning
• Verification
• Certification
• Re-verification
The assessment stage is formally known as a Ships Security Assessment and is
arranged by the Company Security Officer (CSO). The assessment identifies all security
risks applicable to that individual vessel and takes into account;
• The physical layout and type of ship
• Key shipboard operations that need protecting
• The trading area of the ship
• Outside factors that may cause the ship to be a target for attack.

Ship Security Plan And Certification


Once completed the CSO will arrange for a Ships Security Plan to be produced using
the findings of the assessment.
When the Company is satisfied with it is submitted to the ships Flag State for audit and
approval. If approved the Ship is issued with an ‘Interim International Ship’s Security
Certificate’ which is valid for only 6 months.
A ship may operate with an interim certificate but will be penalized for any non-
compliance with the code. During the initial 6 months of the interim certificate
the Inspectors/Surveyors of the flag state will carry out an ‘initial verification.’ This
involves comprehensively testing the ship security plan, including crew knowledge.
Security related equipment on the vessel will also be examined and inspected to ensure
it is ‘fit for purpose.’ If passed the ship will then be issued with an International Ship
Security Certificate which is valid for up to 5 years.
Between the 2nd and 3rd anniversary of the issue of the certificate, flag state
Inspectors/Surveyors will conduct an Interim Verification assessing the vessel to
ensure it remains compliant with ISPS. It involves a dip sampling of the areas assessed
during the initial verification. This process is also followed for re-verification at 5 year
intervals. If a ship changes flag or ownership, the whole process for that vessel must be
repeated. Flag states and owners are allowed to exchange information to speed up this
process. The Ships Security Plan is a restricted document. Only the Master and Ship
Security Officer are allowed to access the full document.

Security Levels
There are three levels of security in ISPS
• Level 1 – Normal
• Level 2 – Heightened
• Level 3 – Exceptional (Attack Imminent)

Level 1
This is the minimum standard of security and requires the following to be maintained:
• Control access to ship
• Control embarkation of persons / effects
• Monitor restricted areas/ authorised access
• Supervise cargo/stores handling
• Security communication must be available

Level 2
Everything done at level 1 plus incrementally increased measures for level 2. For
example; at level one – we are checking the identity of all persons seeking to board the
ship. At level 2, we are checking identities and searching a percentage of those seeking
to board the ship.

Level 3
At level three, the ship operates all the procedures from level 1 and 2 plus the
incremental measures contained in the ship security plan. Ships normally only go to
level 3 on the instruction of a flag or port state. When this occurs the flag or port
state will provide specific advise and instructions to accompany the order. Level 3
means reliable intelligence has been received that the ship itself or the waters in which
it is sailing are likely to be under immediate attack. For UK flagged vessels, this
responsibility of setting ISPS security levels is delegated to Maritime Security Section of
the Department for Transport.

Declaration of Security
When a port is operating at a higher security level than a ship seeking to enter then
the ship must change their security level to match the port. If the role is reversed and
the ship is operating at a higher level than the port there is no similar requirement for
the port to match the ship. Examples of when the ships level may be higher than the
ports include where the ships Flag State instructs it be so or the Master has increased
the level for the safety of the crew/ship based on his knowledge and professional
judgement. When there is a disparity between ship/port or ship/ship (transfer work)
security levels, a ‘declaration of security’ must take place between the parties
involved. A Declaration of Security is a written agreement about responsibilities on
security issues.
If your ship is operating at the same security level as the port, it isn’t usually be
necessary to complete a declaration of security. Requests for adeclaration of
security made by a ship or a port must be acknowledged by the other party to the
declaration. No work between ship/port or ship/ship should be undertaken until the
declaration has been completed and signed by all involved parties. In the case of a
ship/port the declaration of securitymust be completed by the Master or Ship Security
Officer (SSO) and the Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) or other responsible
person. It will address all security requirements to be shared between ship and port.

Retention of Completed Declarations Of Security


Individual flag state will specify the time requirement to keep copies of
completed declaration of security forms. UK/EU Flagged vessels must retain copies
of completed declaration of security forms for three years.

Ship Security Officer


Each ship must have a properly trained and certificated Ship Security Officer signed to
the ship at all times.
The Ship Security Officer responsibilities include:
• Undertaking regular security inspections of the ship to ensure that appropriate security
measures are maintained.
• Maintaining and supervising the implementation of the Ship Security Plan, in
coordination with the Company Security Officer and the relevant Port Facility Security
Officer.
• Co-ordinating the security aspects of the handling of cargo and ship’s stores with other
shipboard personnel and with the relevant Port Facility Security Officer(s).
• Reporting to the Company Security Officer any deficiencies and non-conformities
identified during internal audits, periodic reviews, security inspections and verifications
of compliance and implementing any corrective actions.
• Enhancing security awareness and vigilance on board.
• Ensuring that adequate training has been provided to shipboard personnel.

Ship Alert System


The Ship Alert System is a silent alarm to a shore-based tracking station indicating that
a ship is under attack or in fear of imminent attack from pirates, terrorists or other
another significant threat. The procedures for activating the alert are similar on most
ships however the Company and Flag State response can vary. All Watch keepers
should be trained on how to activate the ship alert system and know about its
procedures. How much each watch keeper needs to know about the system is dictated
by Company Policy and the ship security plan.

Training and Drills


Every ship must conduct a security drill at least once every 3 months. If the crew
changes by more than 25% then a drill must be completed within 7 days. Unless those
crew have served on that ship within the previous 3 months. The ship will take part in an
exercise annually but never more than 18 months apart.
Crew with Security Duties must now be trained in:
• Knowledge of current threats and patterns
• Recognition and detection of weapons, dangerous substances and devices
• Recognition of the behavioural characteristics of those likely to threaten security.
• Crowd management and control techniques
• Security related communications
• Knowledge of emergency procedures and contingency plans
• Operation/testing of security equipment
• Methods of physical searching of persons/effects/baggage/cargo/ship’s stores

All of the crew must have knowledge of:


• The meaning of and the consequential requirements of the three security levels
• techniques used to circumnavigate security measures
• Non-discriminatory recognition of the behavioural patterns of those likely to threaten
security.
• Recognition and detection of weapons, dangerous substances and devices.

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