Ship Security Plan

Confused Seas

Navigating through U.S. Maritime Security Requirements By Dennis L. Bryant Senior Maritime Counsel Holland & Knight, Washington, D.C. The U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) imposes various maritime security requirements on operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Maritime security regulations promulgated by the U.S. Coast Guard implement some (but not all) of the MTSA requirements and impose some additional requirements. In other words, Congress has imposed various requirements on the owners and operators of ships navigating waters of the United States and the U.S. Coast Guard has not provided full guidance on how to comply with those legislative mandates. Foreign ships subject to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) seeking to operate in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States will have to undertake their ship security assessments earlier than might be necessary under the ISPS Code. Likewise, they will have to prepare their ship security plan not later than December 29, 2003 (rather than July 1, 2004, as provided in the ISPS Code). All commercial ships will have to include in the vessel security plan submitted to the Coast Guard several items that were not listed by the agency in its July 1, 2003 interim rulemaking. As of July 1, 2004, all ships navigating U.S. waters must be operating in compliance with their vessel security plans

Panama increases ISPS certification

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has announced it has issued Full Term ISSC certificates to 65% of the fleet that has filed its ship security plans. Some 4,677 ship security plans have been filed by ship owners and been approved. Eight days before the July 1st deadline, AMP officials said that the AMP’s Maritime Security Department has issued some 3,059 five-year International Ship Security Certificates (ISSC) to the vessels that have completed all requirements for the issuance of

Cosco Bulk Carrier Meets Security Code

ABS Americas Division announced its first certification of a vessel in North or South America to the IMO’s International Ship and Port Security (ISPS)Code. COSCO (H.K.) Shipping Company’s 17,066 dwt bulk carrier “You Ya” was successfully audited at the Port of Houston with ABS approving its ship security plans and the necessary security audits for issuance of the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC).

PMA Implementation of ISPS Code

The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) posted on its Internet site a revised circular discussing implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Among other things, the circular identifies the Recognized Security Organizations (RSOs) for purposes of evaluation of ship security plans and the RSOs for verification of the plans. Merchant Marine Circular No. 131 Revised (12/30/03). For more information, contact PMA at Fax: (507) 232 8268 or E-mail: MSD@amp.gob

MCA Approves First Ship Security Plans

The United Kingdom’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has recently approved the first two Ship Security Plans for UK flagged vessels. It expects these to be the first of many before the implementation date of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) on 1st July 2004. The first verifications of ships security systems have been scheduled for early November. The plan approved was for the vessel CMA – CGM Normandie

Panama Selects Recognized Security Organization

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has selected Phoenix Management Services Group Inc, represented in Panama by Phoenix Vessels services Inc, to assess on the evaluation of ship security plans. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, approved in December 2002 by the International Maritime Organization, is an amendment to the SOLAS/74 convention and will enter force on July 1st, 2004. The AMP recently created the new Department of Maritime Security in charge of

ISPS Implementation: IMO Notes Continued Improvement

The latest ISPS Code implementation figures show a steady improvement, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos said on Friday (25 June). “The figures released today indicate that both the number of ship security plans submitted and International Ship Security Certificates issued are increasing as we approach the home strait to 1 July 2004,” Mr. Mitropoulos said. “The proportion of port facility plans approved – while still low – is also increasing

IMO Provides ISPS Code implementation Status

The IMO provided ISPS Code implementation figures as of June 11, 2004. To date, 38 governments have provided responses indicating 21,347 ships from those nations are subject to the ISPS Code; 16,465 ship security plans have been submitted to these governments; and 4,841 International Ship Security Certificates (ISSCs) have been issued. Of the 6,114 port facilities identified by these governments, 2,044 have submitted security plans and 654 have been approved

Panama Approves Charge for ISSC Certificate

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) board of directors approved recently a $ 250 charge for issuing the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC). All Panama-flagged vessels have to file a ship security plan, which is to be assessed by the Recognized Security Organization Phoenix Vessels Services Inc, selected as sole RSO by the AMP on August 12th for this purpose. An in-situ inspection of vessels, made by other Recognized Security Organizations accredited by the AMP

GAC’s Non-Lethal Vessel Security Solutions

The GAC Group has launched a new solution in crisis management and anti-piracy services – GAC Protective Solutions, Powered by Cerberus – to provide professional security and protective solutions for ships, cargo and crew. The core services include: crisis management, officer/crew training, protective equipment supply, sea marshal services, intelligence reports and alerts, coordination with international and Coalition Maritime Task Forces