RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER ISPS CODE

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS.

1. Contracting Governments shall set security levels and provide guidance for protection from security incidents. Higher security levels indicate greater likelihood of occurrence of a security incident.
2. Contracting Governments, when they set security level 3, shall issue, as necessary, appropriate instructions and shall provide security related information to the ships and port facilities that may be affected.
3. Contracting Governments may delegate to a recognized security organization certain of their security related duties under chapter XI-2 and this Part of the Code with Some exception.
4. Contracting Governments shall, to the extent they consider appropriate, test the effectiveness of the Ship or the Port Facility Security Plans, or of amendments to such plans, they have approved, or, in the case of ships, of plans which have been approved on their behalf.

          RESPONSIBILITIES & OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.

1. The Company shall ensure that the ship security plan contains a clear statement emphasizing the master’s authority. The Company shall establish in the ship security plan that the master has the overriding authority and responsibility to make decisions with respect to the safety and security of the ship and to request the assistance of the Company or of any Contracting Government as may be necessary.
2. The Company shall ensure that the company security officer, the master and the ship security officer are given the necessary support to fulfil their duties and responsibilities in accordance with chapter XI-2 and this Part of the Code.
3. Shipping companies are required to act upon the security levels set by the flag State as set out below. The following activities will be carried out at all times on all ships in order to identify and take preventive measures against security incidents:

• Ensuring the performance of all ship security duties.
• Controlling access to the ship.
• Controlling the embarkation of persons and their effects. 
• Monitoring restricted areas to ensure that only authorized persons have            access. 
• Monitoring of deck areas and areas surrounding the ship.      
• Supervising the handling of cargo and ship’s stores.     
• Ensuring that security communication is readily available. 

 Role of the Company Security Officer (CSO) 

1. The Company shall designate a company security officer.
2. A person designated as the company security officer may act as the company security officer for one or more ships, depending on the number or types of ships the Company operates provided it is clearly identified for which ships this person is responsible.
3. A Company may, depending on the number or types of ships they operate designate several persons as company security officers provided it is clearly identified for which ships each person is responsible.
4. The Company Security Officer is designated by the ship owner, and is responsible for: 

 

•    Ensuring that Ship Security Assessments are carried out.
•    Ensuring the development, submission for approval, implementation and maintenance of Ship Security Plans.
•    Arranging for internal audits and reviews of security activities, and ship verifications, as well as ensuring that deficiencies and non-conformities identified are promptly addressed.
•    Advising on the level of threats likely to be encountered by the ship, using appropriate security assessments and other relevant information.
•    Ensuring adequate training for personnel responsible for the security of the ship.
•    Ensuring effective communication and co-operation between the Ship Security Officer and the relevant Port Facility Security Officers.

 DUTY OF MASTER WHILE CHANGING SECURITY LEVEL

1. Whenever security level 2 or 3 is set by the Administration, the ship shall acknowledge receipt of the instructions on change of the security level.
2. Prior to entering a port or whilst in a port within the territory of a Contracting Government that has set security level 2 or 3, the ship shall acknowledge receipt of this instruction and shall confirm to the port facility security officer ,the initiation of the implementation of the appropriate measures and procedures as detailed in the ship security plan.
3. In the case of security level 3, in instructions issued by the Contracting Government which has set security level 3. The ship shall report any difficulties in implementation. In such cases, the port facility security officer and ship security officer shall liaise and co-ordinate the appropriate actions.
4. If a ship is required by the Administration to set, or is already at, a higher security level than that set for the port it intends to enter or in which it is already located, then the ship shall advise, without delay, the competent authority of the Contracting Government within whose territory the port facility is located and the port facility security officer of the situation.

 

Role & Responsibilities of the Ship Security Officer (SSO)

 

The Ship Security Officer is designated by the ship owner as the person onboard each ship responsible for:  

•    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