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UK P&I CLUBIS MANAGEDBY THOMASMILLER

UK P&I CLUB

ISPS – ship securityGood security is teamwork – a responsibility for allonboard, not just a select few, to protect and secure theirenvironment

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First line of defence –the gangwayBy securing the gangway, the accommodation blockand all other associated areas onboard this ship shouldbe safer.

First lines ofdefence

Restricting the accessIn this particular case, access is restricted by means ofa door. The photograph below shows a portablealuminium door and screen erected at the top of thegangway. It is attached to the ship’s rails via aclamping system. It is lightweight and fairly easy to

install once the ship is safely moored alongside and theaccommodation ladder has been rigged. The door canonly be opened from the ship’s inboard side.

The security door has a clear ‘security notice’ and abell to attract the attention of the ship’s staff. The bellactivates both an audible signal and a highly visibleflashing light. Side screens prevent unwanted visitorsfrom climbing around the gate.

Clear noticesThis notice wasdisplayed at the firstpoint of access(normally in thevicinity of theaccommodationladder).

Hawse pipesThe hawse pipe should be secured, below, to preventunwanted ‘visitors’ to the vessel.

This document illustrates just a few examples ofthe positive ways in which Members’ crews haveresponded to the need for onboard security andthe preventive measures used to tackle thisongoing, ever-evolving, problem.

Monitoring visitorsAt the security gate of this vessel, the seaman on dutyrequests the visitor’s ID and checks it against his list ofanticipated visitors. If the visitor is not expected, themaster is advised immediately.

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Body searches/screeningUnder certain circumstances, body searches may benecessary. On this vessel, discreet searches arecarried out using hand-held electronic devices.

Sensible and tactful body screening is important.

Checking onvisitors

Checking baggageIf a visitor to this ship has a bag, it is searched orscreened prior to the visitor receiving a temporaryship’s pass.

Clear to enterIf a visitor has been cleared to enter this ship, he or sheis issued with a temporary pass.

Written records of the time on/time off and passnumber are recorded in the visitors’ log book.

The ship’s pass is returned to the QM when the visitorleaves the ship.

Record keepingAll visitors to the ship shown below are entered ‘in’ and‘out’ in a visitors log book.

The QM is always in radio contact with the duty officerand/or master.

Typical hand-held electronic device

Clear, precise written recordsClean clear records of all visitors should bemaintained. Flag administration officers and other portofficials may wish to refer to past log entries. Thevisitors log is kept in a similar fashion to the deck andengineroom logbooks, with all entries in ink and legible.

Pencil and scruffy entries may cause problems, and arediscouraged.

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Electronic surveillance mayassist ships’ staffRecording visitors to this ship may assist shoreauthorities and the operator during times of a highsecurity level or a security alert.

Electronicsurveillance

A record book of all visitors should be maintained

Here, it is possible to photograph all visitors to thevessel. Records are stowed on a disc or tape, andwould be very useful during times of a security alert.

Radio communicationThis ship’s staff use walkie talkie radios (not GMDSSSOLAS radios) to maintain effective patrols of thedeck.

Vigilance is considered essential, and unattendedsuspect packages are reported.

Video display of visitors andselected parts of the shipHere, there was continuous monitoring and/orrecording of sensitive or restricted parts of the ship.The display below was situated in a cargo controlroom, which was continuously manned.

Sensitive areas are under continuous surveillance andrecording devices are in operation on some ships.

Continuous electronic surveillance on passenger shipsis quite common. In today’s society this is often seen asthe acceptable method of quietly and discreetlypolicing all shipboard areas. Often it is less disruptivethan having security guards. Cameras are directional

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and have a zoom capability. On this vessel, above, thecameras assist security staff onboard.

Search/electronic surveillance ofall persons and bagsPassenger ships have large numbers of ship’s staff andpassengers to screen. Probably one of the mosteffective and less disruptive type of screening is theairport type shown below.

Passenger ships – crew IDOn many passenger ships, there is a separate secure‘check-in area’ for the ship’s staff, using a swipe cardsystem which is carefully monitored by the ship’ssecurity team.

Alert systemMany vessels have a ship safety alert system buttoninstalled.

Secure entry pointsProtecting crew accommodationThe following two photographs show methods ofaccommodation block security: locked gates areanother barrier to the unwanted visitor trying to accessthe living quarters of the ship.

Locked gates protect the ship’s living quarters

A steel door can be secured in port, restricting access tothe stairways

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Restricting movement on exteriorstairwaysHere, external stairways are protected by gates.

High security measuresSome areas of the ship, shown below, requireadditional security measures, depending on the tradingareas of the ship.

Open void spacesThese areas are often overlooked. Simple duct tape ormasking tape to reduce the size of the access willassist this ship’s staff completing stowaway searches.

Frequent use areasNot forgetting the bosun’s store!

Locks and codedkeypadsCoded keypads or key locks onsteel doorsOn this vessel, below, coded door locks restrict accessto the unwanted visitor, but allow easy escape from theaccommodation, or other areas, in times of anemergency such as a fire.

Coded keypad and, right, keypad with a VDU display

Coded locks oninterior doorsAccommodation interiordoors on this ship havebeen fitted with codedlocks.

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Accommodation door with aneasy exit in the event of fire

Emergency escapeIn the event of a fire, all security procedures shouldallow for easy escape from inside the accommodationand, in addition, allow ships’ fire fighting crews toenter restricted areas. Coded locks or keyed accesslocks would appear to be one solution.

The bolt shown here, under the security door lock,

would probably be used at nighttime in pirate areas – all theship’s staff being safely securedinside the accommodation.

Deck lockers‘Lock it up or loose it’ – secured deck lockers.

Sounding pipesThis sounding pipe hasbeen secured to preventpilferage and improvewater-tightness of thebilges. A fully tightened capwith a good thread shouldnot allow unwanted wateringress into the bilges orother areas.

Controllingsensitive areasFoc’sle areasSecure hawse pipes make it difficult for unwantedvisitors to gain access to this ship.

Another method of securing hawse pipes

Engine room securityThis is one area that is often overlooked. Is your funneldoor secured?

Access controlRestricted areas on ships can be clearly identifiedusing simple stencil – cheap and effective.

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UK P&I CLUBIS MANAGEDBY THOMASMILLER

For further information please contact:Loss Prevention Department, Thomas Miller P&I LtdTel: +44 20 7204 2307. Fax +44 20 7283 6517Email: lossprevention.ukclub@thomasmiller.com

Cargo securityAs shown, many ships now use plastic container sealsto ‘back up’ or replace the cargo hold padlock. Theycan also be used in other places, such as securing theenclosed lifeboat entrances, and for crews’ changinglockers. Plastic container seals are cheap and are onlyused once.

Many types ofcontainer or hatchsecurity seals areon the market:plastic; wire type;and steel bolt type –effective securitythat can be visuallychecked quickly.

Checking storesThe photograph below shows all stores being carefullychecked against the invoices prior to acceptance.Suspicious items are treated with care and, ifclarification cannot be obtained, the package isseparated and reported.

Simple stencil lettering for restricted area signage

Watch patrols should be maintained and security logskept up-to-date.

Extra lighting should also be available. In this case theship has fitted additional gas-tight lights in a poorly-litarea to improve the ship’s security.

Staying aware

Security applies to all onboardA noticeboard can keep ships’ staff well informed andregularly updated, thereby improving security.All onboard, not just a select few, should be madeaware of shipboard security.

Preparing for the unexpectedWhat these examples cannot illustrate is the ongoingwork behind these security measures. The need topractice security drills, to regularly audit and updatesecurity procedures, as well as to maintain continuoussynopsis records – the need to be prepared. They arenot exhaustive, but show some ways in which theissues of safety and security onboard have beentackled. But behind it all is the need to shareinformation and knowledge. To constantly refine andreview the methods and equipment used, with a viewto achieving the highest standards possible.

ISPS - Ship security was first produced as a supplement to

LP News 17, November 2004