Why has the ISPS CODE been created ?

After September 11th 2001 many countries worldwide found it necessary to try to prevent similar catastrophic events. During the Conference if Contracting governments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) it was observed that vessels can become a relevant objective for the transportation of dangerous cargos. Due to the importance of Maritime Safety origination from SOLAS ’74 and contained in the ISPS Code. These rules become effective July 1st 2004 and include some of the following requirements:

Ships are to be supplied with a permanent logo with the number of the vessel ID
Ships must be supplied with ID Automatic System (AIS)
Ships must be supplied with Ship Security Plan (SSP)
Ships must be supplied with International Certification of Security
A security declaration between ships and ports must be created to establish the security of each one in conjunction with the potential risks between port, environment and humen life. The PRT must appoint the security manager responsible for all port facilities
Measures to be adopted for staff training involved in security.

ALL OF THE ABOVE REFERS TO PART A OF THE CODE

ISPS Code part B includes details regulations for application of the legislation along with recommendations for establish the recognized security office and for the creation of the national or regional central office for the Security database. The ISPS Code provides – concerning the Security Plan Officer both on the land than on the ship (CSO – SSO ) the specified training.

The Security Ship Office must to have acknowledgment the following:

Security Ship Plan (SSP)
The relative regulations about the Plan.
Check and technical control about the people database
Acknowledgement and functioning of the equipment and security systems on navigation.
Control, maintenance and test on equipment and Security System on navigation

All the above is applied on cruises and cargo vessels of gross weight more than 500 tons to the petroleum platforms and to the port facilities that move in the international traffic and cruises vessels that move in the national traffic beyond 20 miles from the coast. Concerning coasting vessels that move in regular traffic or intercontinental traffic, the regulations are different on base of the agreed countries.

In the United States the strong regulations is issued by the U.S. Department of Transport joint with the U.S. Coast Guard with the CIRCULAR NVIC 10/02 (Navigational Inspection Circular) already applied.

With reference to the above and on our experience we can suggest to help the CSO and SSO Officers with the following products.