Maritime Security - ISPS Code

The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Diplomatic Conference of December 2002 adopted new Regulations to enhance maritime security through amendments to SOLAS Chapters V and XI.

The International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code is at the heart of the new IMO ship security measures and applies to port facilities serving ships on international voyages, all passenger ships on international voyages and to all other ships greater than 500 gross tonnage on international voyages.

The code which is being introduced as an amendment to Chapter XI of the SOLAS Convention is divided in to two parts:

Part A deals with mandatory requirements to which all operators must abide &

Part B provides guidelines on how operators may achieve the mandatory requirements.

In summary the ISPS Code:

• enables the detection and deterrence of security threats within an international framework;
• establishes roles and responsibilities;
• enables collection and exchange of security information;
• provides a methodology for assessing security;
• ensures that adequate security measures are in place.

It requires ship and port facility staff to:

• gather and assess information;
• maintain communication protocols;
• restrict access & prevent the introduction of unauthorised weapons, etc;
• provide the means to raise alarms;
• put in place vessel and port security plans; and ensure training and drills are conducted.

The importance of maritime trade is reflected in the fact that a very large proportion of the world's trade (by bulk) is carried by ships. In addition millions of passengers are carried by cruise ships each year.

Clearly the security of maritime operations, ports and vessels is critical to both a nation's economic stability and on a broader front, to world trade and security, particularly in today's climate of heightened terrorist activity.

Westminster, as a leading international provider of security systems, equipment and anti terrorist devices are well placed to assist the Maritime Industry in meeting the requirements and obligations contained in the new ISPS Code and by way of example can assist with:

• Access control systems to control access to vulnerable and sensitive areas on board ships;
• Identification systems including biometric finger print and iris scan technologies to identify personnel boarding vessels or entering secure areas;
• Intruder detection systems both to protect vulnerable areas and also against illegal boarding etc;
• Metal & weapon detection systems both walkthrough and hand held devices;
• Baggage x-ray scanning equipment both for passenger and crew luggage as well as for cargo;
• Radiation & narcotics detection devices;
• Tracking systems;
• Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) systems specially for marine applications including intrinsically safe devices and facial recognition cameras etc;
• Marine special services & operations including specialist protection teams, guards and divers;
• Specialist systems.

Westminster International's Maritime Security Solutions homepage.

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