ISPS Flashcards
What is the ISPS code?
It stands for the International Ship and Port facility Security Code.
It was brought about following the World Trade Centre disaster in 2001. The IMO introduced the ISPS code into the SOLAS convention as chapter XI in December 2002. Became mandatory from July 2004.
It establishes minimum standards to enhance security measures and procedures in cooperation with port facilities and other vessels to detect security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents.
Applies to all passenger vessels. All other vessels over 500GT engaged on international voyages.
The ship must have a company security officer within the company and an appropriately qualified Ship Security Officer onboard. A ship security assessment must be carried out and a Ship security plan developed.
Port facilities compliant with ISPS must develop a Port facility security plan and a. The ship will operate at a particular security level and request declarations of security as appropriate.
The vessel will be subject to initial, renewal and intermediate verification audits. The ship will be issued with an international ship security certificate and also a continuous synopsis record.
How to become compliant with the ISPS code?
Ship security officer, Company security officer and external security consultancy company carry out a ship security assessment. Based on the findings of a ship security assessment a Ship security Plan is developed.
The ship security plan is checked by the flag state administration.
The flag state administration will issue a letter of approval of the SSP.
The flag state will issue an international ship security certificate.
What is a Ship Security Assessment?
Carried out by the company security officer, Ship security officer and potentially with the assistance of an external consultancy company
Consists of an on-scene security survey of the following:
• identification of existing security measures, procedures and operations;
• identification of possible threats to the ship board operations and the likelihood of their occurrence
• identification of weaknesses, including human factors in the infrastructure, policies and procedures.
What is contained in a Ship Security Plan?
- Procedures for responding to security threats or breaches of security
- Duties of shipboard personnel assigned security responsibilities and of other shipboard personnel on security aspects;
- Procedures for reporting security incidents;
- Measures for the prevention of unauthorized access to the ship and to prevent weapons, dangerous substances from being taken on board the ship;
- Identification of the restricted areas and measures for the prevention of unauthorized access to them;
- Procedures to ensure the inspection, testing, calibration, and maintenance of any security equipment provided on board
- Identification of the locations where the ship security alert system activation points are provided. Procedures, instructions and guidance on the use of the ship security alert system, including the testing.
- Procedures for auditing the security activities; Procedures for the periodic review of the plan and for updating;
- Procedures for training, drills and exercises associated with the plan; procedures for interfacing with port facility security activities;
DURRESTA
What are restricted areas?
Areas on the ship identified withing the SSP for the purpose of preventing unauthorized access, protect sensitive security areas and to protect stores and equipment from tampering.
There should be clearly established policies to control access to all restricted areas. Restricted areas should be clearly marked
Examples include: Bridge, machinery spaces, control stations, spaces containing security surveillance equipment and systems and their controls, crew accommodation, etc…
Describe the 3 Security levels. What measures would be in place?
Security level 1 (Normal) means the level for which minimum appropriate protective security measures shall be maintained at all times.
• ensuring the performance of all ship security duties;
• controlling access to the ship;
• controlling the embarkation of persons and their effects; checking the identity of all persons seeking to board the ship and confirming their reasons for doing so
• monitoring restricted areas to ensure that only authorized persons have access;
• monitoring of deck areas and areas surrounding the ship;
• supervising the handling of ships stores; and checking to ensure stores match the order prior to being loaded on board, and ensuring immediate secure stowage
• ensuring that security communication is readily available.
Security level 2 (Heightened) means the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of heightened risk of a security incident.
• assigning additional personnel to carry out rounds deter unauthorized access;
• limiting the number of access points to the ship, identifying those to be closed and the means of adequately securing them;
• deterring waterside access to the ship, for example, boat patrols or divers
• establishing a restricted area on the shore-side of the ship, in co-operation with the port facility;
• increasing the frequency and detail of searches of persons, personal effects, and provisions
• escorting visitors on the ship
• continuously monitoring surveillance equipment
• subjecting ships stores to more extensive checking; or refusal to accept ships stores on board the ship
Security level 3 (Exceptional) means the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a security incident is probable or imminent
• limiting access to a single, controlled, access point;
• suspension of embarkation or disembarkation; granting access only to those responding to the security incident or threat thereof;
• suspension of deliveries
• evacuation of the ship; or evacuation of non-essential personnel
• Consider movement of the ship.
• full or partial search of the ship. Including an underwater inspection of the hull of the ship
Providing additional specific security briefings to all ship personnel on any identified threats, re-emphasising the procedures for reporting suspicious persons, objects, or activities and the stressing the need for increased vigilance
How is the security level determined?
The flag state administration determines the security level at which the ship should operate in each particular country.
The coastal state government sets the security level for the relevant port facility.
The ship should operate at whichever security level is higher.
The master cannot change the security level, however may implement any security measures deemed necessary.
What is a Declarations of Security? Who should complete it? When can a ship request one?
measures to be implemented by both parties.
The Declaration of Security shall be completed by the master or the ship security officer on behalf ship; and, if appropriate, the port facility security officer on behalf of the port facility.
A ship can request completion of a Declaration of Security when:
• the ship is operating at a higher security level than the port facility or another ship it is interfacing with
• there is an agreement between Contracting Governments covering certain international voyages or specific ships on those voyages
• there has been a security threat or a security incident involving the ship or involving the port facility,
• the ship is at a port which is not required to have and implement a port facility security plan
• the ship is conducting ship to ship activities with another ship not required to have a ship security plan.
What are the duties of the SSO?
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. Duties include:
• undertaking regular security inspections of the ship to ensure that appropriate security measures are maintained;
• reporting to the company security officer any incidents, as well as any deficiencies and non-conformities identified and implementing any corrective actions;
• enhancing security awareness and vigilance on board;
• ensuring that adequate training has been provided to shipboard personnel,
• ensuring that security equipment is properly operated, tested, calibrated and maintained
• co-ordinating the security aspects of the handling of cargo and ships stores
The SSO must be qualified accordingly
What are the duties of the company Security Officer?
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
What crew qualifications are required under the ISPS?
- Proficiency in security awareness. Required by all seafarers working on ISPS vessels.
- Proficiency in designated security duties. Required by seafarers assigned security duties.
- Ship security officer. Required by the designated ship security officer.
What certification is required under the ISPS code?
International Ship Security Certificate. Issued by the flag administration. Such a certificate should be accepted as evidence that the ship is complying with the requirements of the ISPS code. Issued to a ship for a period which should not exceed five years by the Administration. subject to at least one intermediate verification by the Administration between the second and third anniversary date of the Certificate.
Continuous synopsis record. A certificate required under the ISPS code which records changes of owner, flag, name, class, management company, etc… It should always be kept onboard the ship and be available for inspection.
What records are required under the ISPS code?
- Visitor control logbook
- Equipment maintenance test and calibration reports (Including SSAS test acknowledgements)
- Security incident logbook
What drills are required under ISPS?
- Drills should be conducted at least once every three months. In addition, in cases where more than 25 percent of the ships personnel has been changed, at any one time. These drills should test individual elements of the plan, such as bomb threat, Hijacking, stowaway search, contraband, counter-Piracy, extended duration at a particular security level.
- exercises which may include participation of company security officers, port facility security officers should be carried out at least once each calendar year with no more than 18 months between the exercises
What is a Ship Security Alert System?
As ship to shore alert system which is integrated into the Sat -C.
• Transmits security alert to a competent authority designated by the administration. Identifying the ship, it´s location and indicating that the security of the ship is under threat or has been compromised
• It does not send an alert to ships in the vicinity. It does not raise the alarm onboard the ship
• It continues to raise the alarm until it has been reset.
• It should be capable of being activated from the bridge and at least one other location.
