Requirements for Ship Companies

Ship Security Assessment
Ship Security Plan
Verification and Certification
International Ship Security Certificate
Interim International Ship Security Certificate

This Code applies to ships engaged on international voyages, such as: 

• passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft
• cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards; and 
• mobile offshore drilling units.

This Code does not apply to warships, naval auxiliaries or other ships owned or operated by a Canada and used only on government non-commercial service.

For ships, the security requirements contained in the ISPS Code include:

• conducting a Ship Security Assessment
• developing a Ship Security Plan
• undergoing periodic verifications and obtaining an International Ship Security Certificate.

Ship Security Assessment

The Ship Security Assessment is an essential and integral part of the process of developing and updating the Ship Security Plan. The assessment includes an on-scene security survey and, at least, the following elements:

• identification of existing security measures, procedures and operations
• identification and evaluation of key ship board operations that it is important to protect
• identification of possible threats to the key ship board operations and the likelihood of their occurrence, in order to establish and prioritise security measures
• identification of weaknesses, including human factors in the infrastructure, policies and procedures.

Ship Security Plan

The Ship Security Plan is developed to ensure the application of measures on board the ship designed to protect persons on board, cargo, cargo transport units, ship’s stores or the ship from the risks of a security incident. The plan must address, at least, the following: 

• measures designed to prevent unauthorized weapons, dangerous substances and devices intended for use against persons, ships or ports from being taken on board
• identification of the restricted areas and measures for the prevention of unauthorized access to them
• procedures for responding to security threats or breaches of security, including provisions for maintaining critical operations of the ship or ship/port interface, evacuating persons on board, and reporting on incidents
• procedures for responding to any security instructions from Transport Canada
• duties of shipboard personnel assigned security responsibilities and of other shipboard personnel on security aspects
• procedures for auditing the security activities, and for ensuring the inspection, testing, calibration, and maintenance of any security equipment provided on board
• procedures for training, drills and exercises associated with the plan
• procedures for interfacing with port facility security activities
• procedures for the periodic review of the plan and for updating
• procedures, instructions and guidance on the use of the ship security alert system, including the testing, activation, deactivation and resetting and to limit false alerts
• instructions indicating that the master has overriding authority and responsibility to make decisions with respect to the safety and security of the ship and to request assistance as may be necessary.

Records of the following activities addressed in the Ship Security Plan will be kept on board: 

• training, drills and exercises
• security threats and security incidents
• breaches of security
• changes in security level
• communications relating to the direct security of the ship such as specific threats to the ship or to port facilities
• internal audits and reviews of security activities
• periodic reviews of the Ship Security Assessment and the Ship Security Plan
• implementation of any amendments to the plan
• maintenance, calibration and testing of any security equipment provided on board including testing of the ship security alert system.

Verification and Certification

Each ship to which ISPS Code applies is subject to the verifications specified below: 

• an initial verification, either before the ship is put in service or before the certificate required is issued for the first time, that the security system, associated security equipment and the approved Ship Security Plan comply with the requirements of the Code
• a renewal verification at intervals specified by Transport Canada, but generally not exceeding five years
• at least one intermediate verification to ensure that the security system and associated security equipment remains satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended. This verification will be endorsed on the certificate
• any additional verifications as determined by Transport Canada. 

International Ship Security Certificate

An International Ship Security Certificate is issued after the initial or renewal verification. This certificate is valid for a maximum of five years, however, extensions can be granted in the case where: 

• a renewal verification has been completed but a new certificate cannot be issued or placed on board the ship before the expiry date of the existing certificate. The existing certificate could then be extended for a maximum of five months beyond the expiry date
• a certificate expires while a ship is in a port where a verification cannot be conducted. The certificate could be extended for a maximum of three months, but only to allow the ship to complete its voyage to a port where it can be verified
• a certificate issued to a ship engaged on short that has not been previously extended may be granted a period of grace of up to one month.

A certificate may cease to be valid in any of the following cases: 

• if the relevant verifications are not completed within the period specified
• if the certificate is not properly endorsed
• when a ship owner assumes the responsibility for the operation of a ship not previously operated by that ship owner
• when a ship is transferred to the flag of another State.

Interim International Ship Security Certificate

Under the ISPS Code, an Interim International Ship Security Certificate can be issued for: 

• a ship without a certificate, on delivery or prior to its entry or re-entry into service
• the transfer of a ship from the flag of a Contracting Government to the flag of another Contracting Government
• the transfer of a ship to the flag of a Contracting Government from a State which is not a Contracting Government
• when a ship owner assumes the responsibility for the operation of a ship not previously operated by that ship owner.

This certificate will only be valid for a maximum of six months and cannot be extended.

An Interim International Ship Security Certificate can only be issued when it has been verified that:

• the Ship Security Assessment has been completed
• a copy of the Ship Security Plan has been submitted for review and approval, and is being implemented
• the ship has an appropriate security alert system
• the Company Security Officer is satisfied that the ship will successfully complete the required verification within six months
• arrangements have been made for carrying out the required verifications
• all personnel with security duties are familiar with their responsibilities under the Code and under their ship's security plan
• the Ship Security Officer meets the requirements of the Code.