SOLAS XI-2 and the ISPS Code

The International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code

Having entered into violence under SOLAS chapter XI-2, on 1 July 2004, the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code ( ISPS Code ) has since formed the basis for a comprehensive examination mandatary security government for international ship. The Code is divided into two sections, Part A and Part B. Mandatory Part A outlines detail nautical and port security-related requirements which SOLAS shrink governments, port authorities and shipping companies must adhere to, in club to be in submission with the Code. Part B of the Code provides a serial of recommendatory guidelines on how to meet the requirements and obligations set out within the provisions of Part A.
The main objectives of the ISPS Code include :

• establishment of an international framework that fosters cooperation between Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries, in assessing and detecting potential security threats to ships or port facilities used for international trade, so as to implement preventive security measures against such threats
• determining the respective roles and responsibilities of all parties concerned with safeguarding maritime security in ports and on board ships, at the national, regional and international levels;
• to ensure that there is early and efficient collation and exchange of maritime security-related information, at national, regional and international levels;
• to provide a methodology for ship and port security assessments, which facilitates the development of ship, company and port facility security plans and procedures, which must be utilised to respond to ships’ or ports’ varying security levels; and
• to ensure that adequate and proportionate maritime security measures are in place on board ships and in ports.

In order to achieve the above objectives, SOLAS contracting governments, larboard authorities and shipping companies are required, under the ISPS Code, to designate appropriate security officers and personnel, on each embark, port facility and shipping company. These security officers, designated Port Facility Security Officers ( PFSOs ), Ship Security Officers ( SSOs ) and Company Security Officers ( CSOs ), are charged with the duties of assessing, ampere well as prepare and implementing effective security plans that are able to manage any likely security threat. IMO is able to provide support to Member states in motivation of aid in implementing the Code, by direction of national and regional workshops, seminars, needs assessment missions, etc .

The Guide to Maritime Security and the ISPS Code

Since the publication of IMO ‘s 2012 version of the Guide to Maritime Security and the ISPS Code ( the Guide ), developed to assist SOLAS Contracting Governments, port facility personnel and the ship broad ship industry, IMO, through a Global Maritime Security course of study that is separate of the Organization ‘s Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme ( ITCP, develops and implements a comprehensive examination technical cooperation projects and activities worldwide, with the Guide as a basis. The focus is chiefly on assisting States in the execution, confirmation, conformity with, and enforcement of, the provisions of the IMO maritime security system measures, including the ISPS Code and SOLAS chapter XI-2, counter-piracy initiatives, the SUA Convention and Long-range Identification and Tracking ( LRIT ).

The 2012 Guide is a compendium of maritime security related information, drawn primarily from IMO sources. It is comprised of the ISPS Code ‘s non-mandatory Part B, a well as a kind of maritime security related IMO resolutions, circulars and circulars letters, a wax list of which is provided in Appendix 1.2 of the Guide ( IMO Guidance material on Maritime Security Measures, 1986 – 2011 ). In particular, the Guide assists port facility personnel with security duties and shipping caller employees with security duties in ports, port facilities and on board ships. Through it, all relevant stakeholders possess a consolidate and comprehensive source of steering material, which besides contains appropriate linkages to other ongoing IMO initiatives. other sources of steering substantial admit :

• The ILO/IMO Code of practice on security in ports

• Presentations at IMO national and regional workshops and seminars

• Relevant webpages of SOLAS Contracting Governments and multilateral organizations

• Information made available to IMO by Contracting Governments on their organizational structures, practices and procedures such as: the guidance they issue to their port facilities and shipping companies; as well as their implementation experience

The ISPS Code, the 2012 Guide and other IMO publications are available for leverage at IMO ‘s Catalogue & Book Code List.

ILO/IMO Code of practice on security in ports

The Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention on the guard of Life at Sea, 1974 ( London, 9 – 13 December 2002 ), adopted, among others, Conference resolution 8 on “ Enhancement of security in co-operation with the International Labour Organization ” .Conference resolution 8, bury alia, invited the IMO and the ILO to establish a joint ILO/IMO Working Group to undertake any far shape required on the wide issue of port security system.

Preparatory exploit including the formulation of an initial enlist ILO/IMO Code of practice on security in ports, was undertaken by an informal ILO working group on nautical security, in which the IMO Secretariat, Worker ‘s representatives and representatives from governments and the industry participated. The Joint ILO/IMO Working Group on Port Security, which was established by MSC ‘s seventy-seventh session in June 2003, with allow Governmental representation, met in Geneva from 9 to 11 July 2003. The Working Group reviewed the initial enlist ILO/IMO Code developed by the informal group and subsequently adopted it. The draft was reviewed further by a Sub-Committee of the Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Security, Safety and Health in Ports held in Geneva from 8 to 17 December 2003. The Code of practice, which is available in English, French and Spanish, complements the provisions of the ISPS Code ampere far as safeguarding the security of the wide interface area is concerned. It was approved by the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) at its 289th session in March 2004 and approved by the IMO ‘s Maritime Safety Committee ( MSC ) at its seventy-eighth seance in May 2004 .