Maritime Security – ISPS Code Compliance
Events in the recent past have proven that no country in the world is safe against terrorists. Terroristattacks can, for whatever motives, occur at any time and at any place. Even the shipping industry cannot escape that fact.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the international organisation that is responsible for the safety of the shipping industry in general, has issued a number of obligatory regulations and recommendations that constitute a framework within which maritime safety can be improved considerably.
These obligatory regulations and recommendations are documented in an international agreement, the International Treaty for the Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) and the accompanying code, the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). This International Ship and Port facility Security Code (ISPS Code) contains detailed security-related requirements for governments, port authorities and shipping companies. It is intended to enable better monitoring of freight flows, to combat smuggling and to respond to the threat of terrorist attacks. Countries that fail to observe the ISPS Code, which took effect by 1 July 2004, risk being excluded from international trade.
By accentuating the security measures on terminals that apply to international sailing ships of 500 GT or larger, certain requirements with regard to the professional skills of security personnel have been adjusted. To attain this level of knowledge, courses have been developed. The described knowledge level as documented in the ISPS Code is obligatory to be allowed to perform security activities on the terminals as described in the ISPS Code.
This course provides the specialist education ensuring the knowledge requirement of port facility security personnel as stated in the ISPS Code Part A: art. 18.12.
This course is 8 hours long and divided into the following units:
- ISPS Code and legislation
- Security equipment
- Checking persons and goods
- Security plan
- Identification documents
- Recognition of weapons and ammunition
- Communication and dealing with aggression
- Dangerous commodities
- Security Threats & Patterns of Terrorism