7 August 2003 TO ALL MEMBERS Dear Sirs Maritime Security – SOLAS Amendments and the ISPS Code In December 2002, a number of amendments to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) were adopted by the International Maritime Organisation. Chapter V is amended and the existing SOLAS Chapter XI (Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Safety) expanded by the creation of a new Chapter XI-2 (Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Security), incorporating the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS). The Code applies to all passenger ships and cargo ships of 500 gt and upwards engaged on international voyages, as well as to the port facilities serving such ships. The amendments and implementation of the Code will come into force on 1 July 2004 and requirements include: 1. Installation of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) designed for continuous transmission (Chapter V). 2. Vessels’ identification numbers to be permanently marked on every ship, firstly externally, in a visible position, and secondly internally, with compliance to be no later than the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2004 (Chapter XI). 3. The provision and maintenance on board of a Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) providing a history of the vessel’s Ownership and Management. This Record is to be issued by the Flag State. 4. Fitting of Ship Security Alert Systems. The ISPS code sets out detailed security related Management Systems for Governments, Port Authorities and Shipping Companies. The code has been drawn up in two parts. Part A is mandatory and provides details of actions and systems required in order to comply with the code. Part B contains detailed advice on what is required to comply with Part A, and although described as “advisory”, it will require to be followed in order to achieve compliance with Part A. Moreover, the United States Coast Guard have dictated that Part B will also be mandatory for ships trading in the USA. Systems, which should be tailored to the particular vessel’s trading and the management’s other operations, will require the appointment of a Company Security Officer (CSO) who is to oversee the security assessment, preparation of Ship Security Plans and submission of such plans in order to obtain certification from the issuing authority. The company must also designate a Ship’s Security Officer (SSO) for each vessel. The SSO will be accountable to the Master for security and should liaise with the CSO and Port Facility Security Officers, to ensure proper implementation of the Ship Security Plan. P.T.O. - 2 The procedure for obtaining appropriate certification by the required date of 1 July 2004 will need to be conducted in three phases: A. Under the supervision of the designated CSO, an assessment of the ship’s security must be carried out on an individual ship-by-ship basis, the assessment providing the basis for the actual Ship Security Plan. B. Following the security assessment, a formalised Ship’s Security Plan must be drawn up for each vessel, with the assistance of a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO). The IMO has recently issued a circular [MSC/cir.1074 dated 10 June 2003] providing interim guidelines for the authorisation of RSO’s. C. Shipowners must then submit the completed Ship Security Plans for verification and certification to either the appropriate Flag Administration, or an RSO authorised on behalf of the Flag Administration. The RSO undertaking the certification may not also provide the assista