The ISPS Code [INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR THE SECURITY OF SHIPS AND PORT FACILITIES] became mandatory for all ships covered by SOLAS XI-2 of 500 gross tonnage and above.

The objectives of this Code are:

• to establish an international framework involving co-operation between Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries to detect security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade;
• to establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries, at the national and international level for ensuring maritime security;
• to ensure the early and efficient collection and exchange of security-related information;
• to provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedures to react to changing security levels; and
• to ensure confidence that adequate and proportionate maritime security measures are in place.

In order to achieve its objectives, this Code embodies a number of functional requirements.
These include, but are not limited to:

• gathering and assessing information with respect to security threats and exchanging such information with appropriate Contracting Governments;
• requiring the maintenance of communication protocols for ships and port facilities;
• preventing unauthorized access to ships, port facilities and their restricted areas;
• preventing the introduction of unauthorized weapons, incendiary devices or explosives to ships or port facilities;
• providing means for raising the alarm in reaction to security threats or security incidents;
• requiring ship and port facility security plans based upon security assessments;
• requiring training, drills and exercises to ensure familiarity with security plans and procedures.

DEFINITIONS

Ship Security Plan (SSP) means a plan developed to ensure the application of measures on board the ship designed to protect persons on board, cargo, cargo transport units, ship's stores or the ship from the risks of a security incident.

Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP) means 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 for liaison with the company security officer and port facility security officers.

Company Security Officer (CSO) means the person designated by the Company for ensuring 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.

Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) means 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 means 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 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.

APPLICATION

This Code applies to the following types of ships engaged on international voyages:

• passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft;
• cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards;
• mobile offshore drilling units;
• port facilities serving such ships engaged on international voyages.

PH.R.S. and ISPS

PH.R.S. acting as Recognized Security Organization (RSO) is conducting approvals of SSPs or amendments thereto and verification of SSPs necessary for issuing an ISSC on behalf of an Administration subject to the specific authorization granted by the Administration concerned. The verification aims to ensure that the security system and associated security equipment of the ship fully complies with the Code and is in satisfactory condition and fit for the service for which the vessel is intended.