Towards effective implementation of the ISPS Code onboard ships

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a new set of security measures in December 2002, introducing the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), which imposes responsibilities on governments, shipping companies and port authorities to enhance the security of ships and port facilities. Both the ISPS Code and the IMO Model Course 3.19 require that the Ship Security Officer (SSO) and shipboard personnel who have specific security duties, have specific security knowledge and receive training in a number of security tasks. This paper discusses some of the vital factors which may restrain the effective implementation of the ISPS Code onboard ships. The instructors of Maritime Education and Training (MET) may find difficulty in performing a number of training requirements. As well, using a non-maritime instructor may not be practical. MET instructors may possibly require additional security training in security organization, so as to be able to deliver valid, reliable and practical ship security training, in order to meet the preset training objectives. Important questions that raise themselves now are: how the additional security duties could be performed efficiently, in the same time using the same number of crew. Moreover, are member states willing to amend their manning legislations, considering other commercial and economical factors? Recognizing, the similarity between the ISPS Code and the International Safety Management (ISM) Code in many areas, security and safety managements must integrate, in order to reduce the workload on the ship's crew, considering that the consequences of security breaches and accidents could be the same.