The ISPS Code, which falls under the authority of the International Maritime Organization, states that the security of ships and port facilities is a risk management activity and that to determine appropRiate security measures, an assessment of the risks must be made in each particular case.
The purpose of the Code is to provide a standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling governments to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities.
Security assessments have three essential components:
- They must identify and evaluate important assets and infrastructures that are critical to the port facility as well as those areas or structures that, if damaged, could cause significant loss of life or damage to the port facility's economy or environment.
- The must identify the actual threats to those critical assets and infrastructure in order to prioritize security measures.
- The assessment must address vulnerability of the port facility by identifying its weaknesses in physical security, structural integrity, protection systems, procedural policies, communications systems, transportation infrastructure, utilities, and other areas within a port facility that may be a likely target.
This risk management concept will be embodied in the Code through a number of minimum functional security requirements for ships and port facilities. For ships, these requirements will include:
- Ship security plans
- Ship security officers
- Company security officers
- Certain onboard equipment
For port facilities, the requirements will include:
- Port facility security plans
- Port facility security officers
- Certain security equipment
In addition the requirements for ships and for port facilities include:
- Monitoring and controlling access
- Monitoring the activities of people and cargo
- Ensuring security communications are readily available
The ISPS Code states that, as threat increases, the only logical counteraction is to reduce vulnerability. Subsequently, ships will be subject to a system of survey, verification, certification, and control to ensure that their security measures are implemented. This system will be based on a considerably expanded control system as stipulated in the 1974 Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
All information taken from the International Maritime Organization website. For more information, please click here.