Port Facility Security Assessment

Security Assessment

The identification and evaluation of important assets and infrastructures is a process through which the relative importance of structures and structures for the functioning of the port facility can be established and which involves the preparation of the 'Port Facility Security Assessment'.

In the construction of a PFSP it is necessary to prepare a PFSA in advance. This identification and evaluation process is important because it provides a basis for focusing mitigation strategies on those assets and facilities that are most important to protect from a security incident. This process should take into account the potential loss of life, the economic importance of the port, the symbolic value and the presence of government installations. 

The identification & assessment of assets and infrastructure should be used to prioritise their importance of protection. The primary concern should be to avoid death or injury. It is also important to consider whether the port facility can continue to operate without the asset and to what extent a rapid return to normal operation is possible. 

Assets and infrastructures that should be considered important to protect may include: 

Systems such as electrical distribution systems, radio and telecommunication systems and computer systems and networks; port vessel traffic management systems and navigation aids; power plants, goods transfer pipelines and water supplies; bridges, railways, roads; port service vessels, including pilot boats, tugs, barges, etc; security and surveillance equipment and systems; and the waters adjacent to the port facility.

The clear identification of assets and infrastructure is essential to the evaluation of the port facilities' security requirements, the prioritisation of protective measures and decisions concerning the allocation of resources to better protect the port facility. The process may involve consultation with the relevant authorities relating to structures adjacent to the port facility which could cause damage within the facility or be used for the purpose of causing damage to the facility or for illicit observation of the facility or for diverting attention. Identification of the possible threats to the assets and infrastructure and the likelihood of their occurrence is required in order to establish and prioritise security measures.

Possible acts that could threaten the security of assets and infrastructure (and the methods of carrying out those acts), should be identified to evaluate the vulnerability of a given asset or location to a security incident. It should then be established and prioritised for the security requirements to enable planning and resource allocations. Identification and evaluation of each potential act and its method should be based on various factors, including threat assessments by Government agencies. By identifying and assessing threats, those conducting the assessment do not have to rely on worst-case scenarios to guide planning and resource allocations.