The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code

 

The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code

RESOLUTION A.924 (22) :  ADOPTED BY IMO IN 20 NOVEMBER 2001.(REVIEW OF MEASURES AND PROCEDURES TO PREVENT ACTS OF TERRORISM WHICH THREATEN THE SECURITY OF PASSENGERS AND CREWS AND THE SAFETY OF SHIPS ).

ADOPTION OF ISPS CODE BY IMO:  12 DECEMBER 2002

ANOTHER RESOLUTION : ISPS CODE WILL BECOME MANDATORY FROM 01 JULY 2004, IF DEEMED ACCEPT ON 01 JAN 2004. The existing chapter XI of SOLAS was amended and re-identified as chapter XI-1. A new chapter XI-2 was implemented based on special measures to enhance maritime security.

SOLAS CHAPTER XI-1 : Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Safety.

SOLAS CHAPTER XI-2 : Special measures to enhance maritime security.

PART A : MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER XI-2 OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974, AS AMENDED.

PART B : GUIDANCE REGARDING THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER XI-2 OF THE ANNEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974 AS AMENDED AND PART A OF THIS CODE

( The guidance given in part B of this Code should be taken into account when implementing the security provisions set out in Chapter XI-2 of SOLAS 74 and in part A of this Code.)

INTRODUCTION OF ISPS CODE : 

      Foreign crew members shall be allowed ashore by the public authorities while the ship on which they arrive is in port, provided that the formalities on arrival of the ship have been fulfilled and the public authorities have no reason to refuse permission to come ashore for reasons of public health, public safety or public order.

      Contracting Governments when approving ship and port facility security plans should pay due attention to the fact that ship's personnel live and work on the vessel and need shore leave and access to shore based seafarer welfare facilities, including medical care.

APPLICATION OF ISPS CODE :

This Code applies to:

1 : The following types of ships engaged on international 

   voyages:

 .1 passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft;

 .2 cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross

     tonnage and upwards; and

 .3 mobile offshore drilling units; and

2 : port facilities serving such ships engaged on international voyages.

This Code does not apply to warships, naval auxiliaries or other ships owned or operated by a Contracting Government and used only on Government non-commercial service.

THE OBJECTIVES OF ISPS CODE :

1. To establish an international framework involving co-operation between Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries to detect security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade;
2. To establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries, at the national and international level for ensuring maritime security.
3. To to ensure the early and efficient collection and exchange of security-related information.
4. To provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedures to react to changing security levels.
5. To ensure confidence that adequate and balance maritime security measures are in place.   

1. IMPORTANT TERMS  UNDER ISPS CODE

1. 1. Ship security officer : Means the person on board the ship, accountable to the master, designated by the Company as responsible for the security of the ship, including implementation and maintenance of the ship security plan and for liaison with the company security officer and port facility security officers.
   2. Ship security plan : Means a plan developed to ensure the application of measures on board the ship designed to protect persons on board, cargo, cargo transport units, ship’s stores or the ship from the risks of a security incident. .
   3. Company security officer: Means the person designated by the Company for ensuring that a ship security assessment is carried out; that a ship security plan is developed, submitted for approval, and thereafter implemented and maintained and for liaison with port facility security officers and the ship security officer.
   4. Port facility security officer : Means the person designated as responsible for the development, implementation, revision and maintenance of the port facility security plan and for liaison with the ship security officers and company security officers.
   5. Port facility security plan: Means a plan developed to ensure the application of measures designed to protect the port facility and ships, persons, cargo, cargo transport units and ship’s stores within the port facility from the risks of a security incident.  
   6. Security level 1 : Means the level for which minimum appropriate protective security measures shall be maintained at all times.
   7. Security level 2 : Means the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of increased risk of a security incident.
   8. Security level 3 : Means the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a security incident is unlikely or about to happen, although it may not be possible to identify the specific target.
   9. DECLARATION OF SECURITY ( DOS ) :

   Contracting Governments shall determine when a Declaration of Security is required by assessing the risk the ship/port interface or ship to ship activity poses to persons, property or the environment.

   A ship can request completion of a Declaration of Security when:   

   .1 The ship is operating at a higher security level than the port facility or another ship it is interfacing with;                                  

   .2 There is an agreement on a Declaration of Security between Contracting Governments covering certain international voyages or specific ships on those voyages;                                                       

   .3 There has been a security threat or a security incident involving the ship or involving the port facility, as applicable;                            

   .4 The ship is at a port which is not required to have and implement an approved port facility security plan;                                           

   .5 The ship is conducting ship to ship activities with another ship not required to have and implement an approved ship security plan.

   The Declaration of Security shall be completed by:                        

   .1 The master or the ship security officer on behalf of the ship(s); and, if appropriate,                                                                          

   .2 the port facility security officer or, if the Contracting Government determines otherwise, by any other body responsible for shore-side security, on behalf of the port facility.