Security

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) came into force in 2004 as an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. It highlights requirements on maritime security including, minimum security arrangements for ships, ports facilities, and government agencies. It specifies the responsibilities of governments, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port facility personnel to detect security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities.

The threat of a bomb or IED - Improvised Explosive Device on board a ship is a significant security concern for any shipping company. Ships can be highly vulnerable to such potential threats due to the complexity of their structures, which can offer endless opportunities to conceal suspicious objects. In addition, it is not always possible to ensure systematic control of access to people, visitors, passengers, stakeholder representatives, baggage, stores, spare parts and cargo on board, especially during routine operations and in the light of smaller and less well-trained crews.

This course is intended to provide knowledge for all port facility personnel that are not engaged in security duties, in order to implement the security awareness in accordance with the requirements of the relevant international legislation.

This course will help you understand what GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is and why is it important in the EU and EEA areas. The GDPR act has brought a level of protection to natural persons in regard to the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data.

The issues faced internationally concerning stowaways, migrants & refugees are ever-growing in today's difficult geopolitical environment. Situations involving stowaways and refugees have serious legal ramifications if not handled correctly and we need to adhere to the correct procedures for dealing with problems facing stowaways, migrants and refugees.

This course is to refresh the concepts covered by the Ship Security Officer course. It is not intended to replace the knowledge gained on that course or be used in place of it for approved certification.

In this course we will be looking at the role of the gangway watch keeper, the relevant legislation and the security of the vessel.

Shipping today is increasingly dependent on digital solutions. This is also why the industry is becoming more vulnerable to cyber attacks that may result in shipping-related operational, safety, or security failures. Cybersecurity is about the awareness, culture, and behaviour of your Employees; a defined Process compiled of clear steps for carrying out tasks; and the Technology used to protect systems, networks, programs, devices, and data from malicious cyber attacks.

Piracy and armed robbery threats against ships are among the modern-day challenges found within the maritime industry. These threats are dynamic and recent threats have been noted especially off the West African coast. These attacks keep reminding the industry about the violence of such actions and the extreme hazards faced by those onboard including the dangers of loss of life. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for crew and shipmasters to know the reporting systems and assistance in place and understand the procedures to be followed to avoid such threats.

A ship-to-ship transfer occurs when cargo such as oil or gas is transferred from one ship to another. Oil tankers and gas carriers keep growing bigger and bigger, and for economic reasons or due to draft restrictions, sometimes these vessels do not go alongside in port but instead do an STS transfer. Unfortunately, this comes with the risk of causing pollution or fire accidents in the case of cargo leakage into the open sea. Extreme coordination, proper equipment, and approval for the performance of such operations are required, hence the importance of proper training.