International Ship And Port Facility Security Code Article Index for
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International Ship And Port Facility Security Code




The code does not specify specific measures that each port and ship must take to ensure the safety of the facility against terrorism because of the many different types and sizes of these facilities. Instead it outlines "a standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling governments to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities."

For ships the framework includes requirements on:
: ship security plans
: ship security officers
: company security officers
: certain onboard equipment

For port facilities, the requirements include:
: port facility security plans
: port facility security officers
: certain security equipment

In addition the requirements for ships and for port facilities include:
: monitoring and controlling access
: monitoring the activities of people and cargo
: ensuring security communications are readily available

''Note: The lists of requirements in this article is taken verbatim from IMO sources under a fair use doctrine''


IMPLEMENTATION

The code came into force on July 1, 2004. Though most authorities around the world reported little disruption to shipping activities, the United States Coast Guard said it expected to prevent 3 of the 250 ships due to enter ports around the country that day under the provisions laid down by the code. A Coast Guard spokeswoman said that the three ships lacked international shipping security certificates. In fact on the eve of the code coming into force the IMO reported that only 53% of ships and 50% of ports were believed to be in full compliance of code, but that some governments were choosing not to implement penalties for non-compliance too quickly in order to avoid disruption to Trade .


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