What is the ISPS Code?

ISPS or the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code is an essential maritime regulation for the safety and security of ships, ports, cargo and crew.

The biggest challenge the world is facing today is fighting terrorism. There have been many events in the history lately involving terrorist attacks in different parts of the world in different forms.

But the most gruesome of all – September 11 terrorist attack on the twin towers (World Trade Centre) proved that the national and international security was on stake.

The maritime security is a prevailing issue and several incidences have taken place even before the 9/11 attack (for e.g. On 26th February 2000, bombs that were hidden inside two crowded buses in a Philippians’ ferry – Our lady of Mediatrix, exploded and killed 45 passengers).

Before the ISPS code, the SOLAS primary focus was the safety of the ship at sea. As security and safety are entirely different topics, new amendments were made in SOLAS and the Chapter XI, which contains measures to enhance maritime safety, by renaming to Chapter XI-1 and a new Chapter XI-2 was added with additional focus on maritime security.

This new chapter comprises of regulations known as International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities with the abbreviated name “International Ship and Port Facility Security Code or the ISPS Code”.

Since the sea is one of the easiest ways to approach an international territory, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) under SOLAS convention chapter XI-2 developed the International Ship and Port Facility Security code – The ISPS code for the safety of ships, ports, seafarers and government agencies.

The ISPS code was implemented by IMO on July 1st 2004 as a comprehensive set of measurements for international security by prescribing responsibilities to a government authority, port authority, shipping companies and seafarers.

It applies to the ships doing international voyages which include passenger ships & cargo ships of 500 GT and above.

Main Aim of ISPS code In Shipping

The ISPS code mainly looks after the security aspects of the ship, seafarers, ports and port workers, to ensure preventive measures can be taken if a security threat is determined. The main aim of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS) is as follows:

  • To monitor the activity of people and cargo operation
  • To detect the different security threats onboard vessel and in port and implement the measure as per the situation
  • To provide a security level to the ship and derive various duties and functions at the different security level
  • To establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the contracting governments, agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries
  • To build and implement roles and responsibilities for port state officer and onboard officers to tackle maritime security threat at the international level
  • To collect data from all over the maritime industry concerning security threats and implementing ways to tackle the same
  • To ensure the exchange of collected security-related information data with worldwide port and ship owners network
  • To provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedures to react to changing security levels
  • To find the shortcomings in the ship security and port security plan and measure to improve them

ISPS Code Requirements

The ISPS code incorporates various functional requirements so that it can achieve certain objectives to ensure the security of ships and ports. Some of the important requirements are as follows:

  • To gather the security-related information from the contracting government agencies
  • To assess the received information
  • To distribute the security-related information to appropriate contracting government agencies
  • Defining the proper communication protocols for ships and port facilities for hassle-free information exchange
  • To prevent any unauthorised entry in port facilities or on a ship and other related restricted areas, even if the unauthorised entry is not a threat (but always considered as a potential threat)
  • To prevent the passage of unauthorised weapons, incendiary devices or explosives to ships and port facilities
  • To provide different means for raising the alarm if any security incident is encountered or a potential security threat is assessed
  • To implement proper security plan on port and ship-based upon the security assessment and requirements
  • To plan and implement training, drills and exercises for ship and port crew so that they are familiar with the security plans and there is no delay in implementing the same in case of a real threat

ISPS Code Implementation

ISPS Code Meaning for Ships:

The cargo ships are vulnerable to security threats as they hardly carry any weapon of protection in case of a real attack. Piracy, terrorist attack, stowaways etc. are real-time threats haunting the ship and its crew. Improved ship security will be required in order to identify and take preventive measures against such security incidents.

The administration is responsible for reviewing and approving a ship security plan for the ship, which will also include any amendments of old plans etc.

The company must train its officer for ship security officer certification and the assessment of the ship security will be carried onboard by these certified officers only. The timely assessment of the ship security plan (SSP) by a certified officer is essential for finding shortcomings and enhancing the current SSP.

The ship security assessment shall be documented, reviewed, accepted and retained by the company. Every ship must carry an approved ship security plan approved by the Administration.

ISPS Code for Vessels Includes :

Company Security Officer ( CSO )

CSO is a company appointed person, who is responsible for the ship security assessment and for the onboard survey to confirm the development and implementation of the ship security plan as per ISPS code. If any deficiency occurs, CSO is responsible to deal with all the non-conformities and to modify SSP as per the deficiency.

Ship Security Officer ( SSO )

SSO is the i- charge of security of the vessel onboard and responsible for the other entire crew member to carry out duties for ship security as per ISPS code. SSO is responsible for carrying out frequent drills for ISPS Code as per SSP.

Ship Security Plan ( SSP )

It is a plan kept onboard vessel mentioning the duty of crew members at different security levels and the do’s and don’ts at a different type of security threats. SSO is responsible under CSO to implement ship security plan onboard vessel.

Source: Marine Insight