PORT FACILITY SECURITY
INTERIM GUIDANCE ON VOLUNTARY SELF-ASSESSMENT BY SOLAS
CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS AND BY PORT FACILITIES1 SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code have, inter alia, placed new responsibilities on
SOLAS Contracting Governments (Contracting Governments) and port facilities for port facility
security. The provisions entered into force on 1 July 2004 and the appendices to this document
provide interim guidance on:
.1 a method of self-assessing the effectiveness with which a SOLAS Contracting
Government fulfilled, and continues to fulfil, its obligations in respect of port facility
security, and
.2 a tool to allow port facilities to self-assess the continuing effectiveness of their port
facility security plans and the implementation of the relevant security measures in
such plans.
2 Self-assessment by a Contracting Government can be undertaken within Government, who
could also appoint experts to assist them in the process. Similarly, port facility personnel can use the
self-assessment tool with the support of experts, if appropriate.
3 Anyone undertaking the self-assessment should, at least, have knowledge of:
.1 the requirements of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code;
.2 general security principles; and
.3 the operation of port facilities.
4 The processes and the completed self-assessments should be protected from unauthorized
access or disclosure.
5 The effective implementation of port facility security measures is a continuing responsibility.
It is suggested that Contracting Governments self-assess their processes post-implementation and
thereafter at least on a five yearly basis and that port facilities self-assess annually.