WHAT ARE SHIP SECURITY LEVELS ? - Abhishek Sabharwal

SECURITY LEVEL 1

At security level 1,the SSP (Ship Security Plan) should establish the security measures to control access to the ship ,where the following may be applied ;

• checking the identity of all the persons seeking to board the ship and confirming their reasons for doing so by checking, for example,joining instructions,passenger tickets,boarding passes,work orders etc;
• in liason with the port facility the ship should ensure that designated secure areas are established in which inspections and searching of persons, baggage,personal effects,vehicles and their contents can take place;
• in liason with the port facility the ship should ensure that vehicles designed to be loaded onboard car carriers,ro ro and other passenger ships are subjected to search prioe to loading ,in accordance with the frequency required in the SSP;
• segregrating checked persons and their personal effects from unchecked persons and their personal effects;
• segregating embarking from disembarking passengers;
• identifying access points that should be secured or attended to prevent unauthorized access;
• securing by locking or other means,access to unattended spaces adjoining areas to which passengers or visitors have access,and;
• providing security briefings to all ship personnel on possible threats,the procedures for reporting suspicious persons ,objects or activities and the need for vigilance.

SECURITY LEVEL 2

At security level the SSP should establish the security measures to be applied to protect against  a hightened risk of a security incident to ensure higher vigilance and tighter control,which may include,

• assigning additional personnel to patrol deck areas during silent hours to deterr unauthorised access;
• limiting the number of access points to the ship,identifying those to be closed and the means of adequately securing them;
• deterring waterside access to the ship including;
• establishing a restricted area on the shore sideof the ship,in close co-operation with the port facility;
• increasing the frequency and detail of searches of persons ,personal effects and vehicles being embarked or loaded onto the ship;
• escorting visitors on the ship;
• providing additional specific security briefings to all ship personnel on any identified threats , reemphasizing the procedures for reporting suspicious persons,objects or activities and stressing the need for increased vigilance;
• carrying out a full or partial search of the ship.

SECURITY LEVEL 3

At security level 3 the ship should comply with the instructions issued by those responding to the security incident or threat thereof.The SSP should detail the security measures which could be taken by the ship , in close coperation with those responding and the port facility,which may include,

• limiting access to a single,controlled access point;
• granting access only to those responding to the security incident or threat thereof;
• directing persons onboard;
• suspension of embarkation or diembarkation;
• suspension of cargo handling operations,deliveries,etc;
• evacuation of the ship;
• movement of the ship;
• preparing for a full or partial search of the ship.