Security according to schedule
Swift certification of fleet in accordance with ISPS

ISPS Training on board

The ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) c

The ISPS code was introduced as a reaction to the amendments to the SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea Convention) of December 2002 for preventive antiterrorist measures in maritime traffic. The objective is to identify terrorist threats to maritime shipping and take preventive countermeasures. The basis for the measures is a general, vessel-specific risk assessment from which hazard avoidance plans aredeveloped.

These ship security plans specify precisely what precautions are necessary for hazard avoidance on board; for example, keeping the vessel secured as well as strict and clear access control in the port. A ship security plan must contain the following, among other things: specification of closed-off areas and measures for the prevention of unauthorized access to these areas on board as well as a procedure for responding to security threats and violations, including precautions for critical operating procedures on board or at the vessel-port interface. Furthermore, the plan contains precautions for evacuation of a ship in the event of a security threat as well as the assigned tasks of the crew within the framework of hazard avoidance.

Review and implement
These ship security plans must be reviewed and approved by the flag state and the Recognized Security Organization (RSO). After that the plan has to be implemented successfully on board and audited by the RSO. Once this has been achieved, the vessel receives the already mentioned ISSC. This certificate must be available so it can be produced for the respective authorities at any time when the ship calls at a port.

The hazard avoidance measures on board are coordinated by the respective Ship Security Officer (SSO). In the Hanseatic Lloyd fleet this position on board is assumed by the 1st Officer in each case, supported by the captain. For example, the former carries out regular inspections, monitors compliance with the ship security plan and ensures that security concerns are taken into account during loading and discharge.

His counterpart in the shipping company is the Company Security Officer (CSO) for hazard avoidance at the company; he is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the ISPS code are implemented and maintained continuously. He is also the one who draws up the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) for each vessel in the company's fleet prior to auditing and thus defines the levels of risk applying to the vessel.

Putting into practice
Based on C-TPAT certification, the Hanseatic Lloyd fleet started implementing the ISPS code at an early date. Using the ship security assessment as the basis for each individual vessel, the responsible Hanseatic Lloyd staff developed individual hazard avoidance measures in each case. That is, what has to be improved on board so that, for example, the vessel is secured against unauthorized entry and access checks can be carried out effectively; what lighting must a ship have on all sides at the berth? These considerations were taken into account in the ship security plans, which then went to the flag state and from there to the RSO responsible for the flag state, in this case Germanischer Lloyd (GL).

To implement the measures on board, the nautical officers receive their ISPS training in national training courses in close cooperation with the crewing agency. The latter trains the members of the crew in courses offered in the respective native countries. The extent to which each member of the crew of an HLL vessel is familiar with the ISPS measures is also an integral part of the audit, i.e. the review by the RSO. This verification of the approved plans took place on board the Hanseatic Lloyd vessels in the past months. As a result, all vessels were given the International Ship Security Certificate and can now have an initial positive review of this certificate carried out by the US authorities the first time they call at a US port. The crew's awareness of the necessity of hazard avoidance and attentiveness on board are - as has been shown - exemplary.

In the future there will be an ”annual company exercise”, so-called security drills, by the CSO on board every year in addition to the internal audits. Security maneuvers will be conducted on every vessel at least every three months. This is then followed by external verifications by the RSO at intervals of two and a half years. Thus, the ISPS code will be a constant companion on board.