Step 8 of 10•4 minutes read
Terms and Definitions (Part 1)
It is important to have clarity on what is described within the ISPS Code so that there is no ambiguity in understanding. Having increased awareness of maritime security benefits all parties involved with operations in port and on ships.
Convention means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as amended. Regulation is a rule or directive made and maintained by the Convention. A Chapter is a division within the regulations of the Convention.
Security means the state of being free from danger or threat or measures and behaviours to be taken to prevent intentional unlawful acts.
A Ship Security Plan (SSP) is a plan developed to ensure the application of measures onboard the ship designed to protect persons on board, cargo, cargo transport units, shipís stores or the ship from the risks of a security incident.
A Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP) is a plan developed to ensure the application of measures designed to protect the port facility and ships, persons, cargo, cargo transport units and ship's stores within the port facility from the risks of a security incident.
Ship Security Officer (SSO) means the person on board the ship, accountable to the master, designated by the Company as responsible for the security of the ship, including implementation and maintenance of the ship security plan and liaising with the company security officer and port facility security officers.
The Company Security Officer (CSO) is the person designated by the Company to ensure that a ship security assessment is carried out; that a ship security plan is developed, submitted for approval, and thereafter implemented and maintained and for liaison with port facility security officers and the ship security officer.
The Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) is the person designated as responsible for the development, implementation, revision and maintenance of the port facility security plan and for liaison with the ship security officers and company security officers.
Security level 1 is the level for which minimum appropriate protective security measures shall be maintained at all times.
Security level 2 means the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of a heightened risk of a security incident.
Security level 3 means the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a security incident is probable or imminent, although it may not be possible to identify the specific target.
A Drill is a small, coordinated practice that tests at least one part of the Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP); it is used to test a procedure or a particular function and it serves to maintain a high level of preparedness.
Exercise is an annual activity involving extensive training in which various aspects of the Port Facility Security Plan or Port Security Plan (PSP) are practised: Communication, coordination, availability, resources and reactions are all rehearsed and tested.
Administration means the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly. In the Maritime Security Measures and the Maritime Security Manual, “Administration” is used to describe the organisation within the Government responsible for ship security.
Government is used in the Maritime Security Manual in place of 'Contracting Government'. Depending on the context, the term may be used in the Manual with Administrations or Designated Authority, or in their place.
Contracting Government generally means a Government that has agreed to be bound by any IMO Convention, e.g. the SOLAS Convention, or other binding instrument adopted by the IMO. In the Maritime Security Manual, the simpler term Government is generally used in place of Contracting Government unless there is a direct quotation from SOLAS Chapter XI-2 or from the ISPS Code Part A or Part B. Depending on the context Government can also be used in the IMO Maritime Security Measures with either the term Administration or Designated Authority, or with both, or in place of either or both.
Government Official means any Government employee who has security-related responsibilities under the Maritime Security Measures and includes duly authorised officers undertaking control and compliance measures in respect of foreign-flagged vessels using the Maritime Security Measures.
Designated Authority means the organisation(s) or the administration(s) identified, within the Contracting Government, as responsible for ensuring the implementation of the provisions of this chapter pertaining to port facility security and ship/port interface, from the point of view of the port facility. In the ILO/IMO Code of Practice on Port Security, the term is used to describe the organisation within the Government responsible for port security.
The Duty Authorised Officer is a Government official given specific authorisation to undertake official duties, usually associated with inspection and enforcement activities. Such duties under the Maritime Security Measures include undertaking control and compliance measures in respect of foreign-flagged vessels under the Maritime Security Measures and the use of the term in the Maritime Security Manual is usually associated with that activity.