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 a declaration 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 security must 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.
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.
