1156 - Guidance On The Access Of Public Authorities, Emergency Response Services And Pilots On Board Ships To Which Solas Chapter xi-2 And The Isps Code Apply

 

1          The   Maritime   Safety   Committee   (the   Committee),   at   its   seventy-ninth   session (1 to 10 December2004)agreedthatundercertaincircumstancesthestrictapplicationofaccess control  measures  by  a  ship  might  not  be  conducive  to  the  safety  of  the  ship  or  of  persons  on board,orofothershipsinthevicinity,andmightevenbeconstruedaspreventingofficialsfrom exercising their statutory functions.

 

2          TheCommittee,atitseightiethsession(11to20May2005),inanefforttoassistthose concernedwiththematter,approvedtheGuidanceontheaccessofpublicauthorities,emergency responseservicesandpilotsonboardshipstowhichSOLASchapterXI-2andtheISPSCode apply (the Guidance) as set out at annex.

 

3          SOLASContractingGovernmentsareinvitedtobringtheGuidancetotheattentionofall parties concerned with matters addressed therein.

 

4          SOLAS  Contracting  Governments,  international  organizations  and  non-governmental organizationswithconsultativestatus whichencounterdifficultieswiththeimplementationof the Guidanceshouldbring,attheearliestopportunity,themattertotheattentionoftheCommittee

for consideration of the issues involved and decision on the actions to be taken.

 

5          ThepresentcircularshouldbereadinconjunctionwithMSC/Circ.1112onShoreleave and access to ships under the ISPS Code to which it relates.

 

 

 

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Annex

1 Introduction

1.1       Thepurposeofthisguidanceistoproviderecommendedpracticeinrelationtotheaccess ofpublicauthorities, emergencyresponseservicesandpilotsonboardshipstowhichSOLAS chapterXI-2andtheISPSCodeapply,inordertofacilitatetheactivitiesandresponsibilitiesof ships, ports facilities and ofthe authorities of SOLAS Contracting Government.

 

1.2       Duringroutineandnormalship/portinterfaceandship-to-shipactivitiesitisusualfora varietyofcommercial,privateandGovernmentalpersonneltorequireaccesstoaship.Access controlmeasuresincorporatedinShipSecurityPlans(SSPs)thatimplementtherequirementsof theISPSCodeshould,duringroutineship/portinterfaceandship-to-shipactivities,normallybe respected  by  everyone,  including  officials  seeking  access  to  ships  and  restricted  areas  on board them.

 

1.3       Inadditiontoroutineandnormalaccess,underordinary circumstances,thereareavariety of  situations  where  law  enforcement  or  emergency  response  personnel  need  to  conduct  law enforcement  functions  to  address  specific  security  problems  or  to  respond  to  emergency situations  such  as  fires.  In  such  situations  it  may  not  be  possible  or  reasonable  for  the  ship's securitypersonneltoimplementthenormalaccesscontrolprovisionsrequiredbytheSSP.The securityandsafetyoftheshipandoftheportfacilitiesrequirethatpracticesbeestablishedthat expedite  access  control  for  public  authorities,   emergency  response  services  and  pilots.  The observanceofsuchpracticesshouldnotbeconstruedasafailureoftheshiptoimplementorto maintain  appropriate  security  measures  nor  usedby  officials  asan  excuse  for  circumventing  a ship's  security  measures  when  conducting  routine  and  normal  operations  requiring  access

to ships.

 

1.4       ItisnotedthatparagraphB/9.12oftheISPSCodestatesthatthoseunwillingorunableto establishtheiridentityand/ortoconfirm thepurposeoftheirvisitwhenrequestedtodososhould bedeniedaccesstotheshipandtheirattempttoobtainaccessshouldbereported,asappropriate, totheShipSecurityOfficer,theCompanySecurityOfficer,thePortFacilitySecurityOfficerand to the national or local authorities with security responsibilities.

 

2 Definitions

2.1       For the purpose of this guidance:

 

.1         Public  authorities   means  the  agencies  or  officials  in  a  State  responsible  for  the application  and  enforcement  ofthe  laws,regulations,  orders  and  decrees  of  that State; and

 

.2         Emergency  response  services   means  the  medical,  paramedical  and  ambulance personnel,  fire  and  rescue  personnel,  and  at  sea  search  and  rescue  (SAR)  units responding to or participating in SAR operations.

 

 

 

 

2.2       Publicauthoritiesincludebutarenotlimitedtoimmigration,customsandhealthofficials, police,  military  and  coast  guard  officers,  surveyors  and  inspectors  authorized  by  that  State  to exercise - pursuant to the provisionofinternational treaties theState is party to control (port State control)orcontrolandcompliancemeasures(in accordancewithSOLASregulationXI-2/9)orto carryoutinvestigationsintoallegedviolationsoftheprovisionsofthenationallegislationorto carryoutmarineaccidentinvestigationsorjudicialenquiries.Publicauthoritiesalsoincludethe security  services  of  the  State.  In  addition,  public  authorities  include  surveyors,  inspectors, auditors,  marine  accident  investigators  and  persons  investigating  alleged  violations  of  the internationaltreatiesandtheprovisionofthenationallegislationoftheStatetheflagofwhichis entitled to fly, directly employed by the flag State.

 

2.3       Publicauthoritiesandemergencyresponseservicesandpilotsmaybeuniformedofficials or persons in civilian clothing.

 

Related reference: MSC/Circ.1132, paragraphs 18, 19, 20 and 21.

 

 

3 The Position Of Solas Chapter Xi-2 And Of The Isps Code

3.1       The  Special  measures  to  enhance  maritime  security  contained  in  SOLAS  chapter  XI-2 and  in  the  ISPS  Code  have  been  developed  for  the  purpose  of  enhancing  the  security  in  the internationalmaritimetransportsectorandshouldnotbeusedtounnecessaryorunjustifieddelay

or inhibit the access on board of public authorities and emergency response services.

 

3.2       The  ISPS  Code,  in  order  to  achieve  its  objectives,  embodies  a  number  of  functional requirements.Theseinclude,butarenotlimitedtopreventingunauthorizedaccesstoships,port facilities and their restricted areas (section A/1.3.3 of the ISPS Code).

 

3.3       Thefactthatashipsecurityplan(SSP)hasbeenapprovedbytheAdministrationorbya recognizedsecurityorganizationactingonitsbehalfdoesnotcreatearightforeithertheshipor for  those  on  board  to  invoke  its  provisions,  and  to  claim,  in  any  circumstance  and  regardless of whatisrequiredbytheapplicablesecuritylevel,thattheyhaveauthoritytopreventanypublic authority   from   boarding   the   ship   when   that   ship   is   within   the   territory   of   another SOLAS Contracting Government or of another State.

 

3.4       ItshouldbenotedthatSOLASregulationXI-2/8onMaster'sdiscretionforshipsafety andsecurityprovidesthat:

 

“ThemastershallnotbeconstrainedbytheCompany,thechartereroranyotherperson fromtakingorexecutinganydecisionwhich,in theprofessionaljudgementofthemaster, isnecessarytomaintainthesafetyandsecurityoftheship.Thisincludesdenialofaccess

topersons(exceptthoseidentifiedasdulyauthorizedbyaContractingGovernment)or theireffectsandrefusaltoloadcargo,includingcontainersorotherclosedcargotransport units.”

 

3.5       Delayingunnecessarilythearrivalofthepilotonthebridge,especiallywhentheshipis underway,isdetrimentaltothesafetyofnavigationandmayleadtosituationswherethesafety of the ship and of other ships or of people in the vicinity may be jeopardized.

 

 

 

3.6       Inhibitingtheaccessofpublicauthoritiesonboardmaybeconstruedasobstructingthem from  executing  their  duties  or  obstructing  judicial  or  other  statutory  proceedings  or  the administrationofjustice,whenpublicauthoritiesarelawfullyseekingtoboardaship.  Insucha case,thepublicauthorityshouldinformthemasteroftheshipofthelaws,regulations,decreesor orders  which  gives  the  public  authority  the  legal  right  to  access  the  ship  in  accordance  with international  or  national  law.     In  accordance  with  the  paragraphs  4.4  and  9.1.5  the  public authorityshouldpresentanidentitydocumentwhenseekingtoboardashipandtheshipmay seek to verify its authenticity.

 

 

4 Identification

4.1       SOLAS  Contracting  Governments  should  issue  appropriate  identification  documents, which  should  include  a  photograph  of  the  holder,  where  appropriate,  to  Government  officials entitled  to  board  ships  or  enter  port  facilities  when  performing  their  official  duties  and  to establishprocedureswherebytheauthenticityofsuchdocumentsmightbeverified.Government officialsshouldpresenttheiridentificationdocumentswhenrequestedtodosoataccesscontrol points to port facilities and ships and if challenged when on board.

 

4.2       SOLAS  Contracting  Governments  should  ensure  that  the  method  of  verifying  the authenticity  of  identification  documents  carried  by  public  authorities  and  emergency  response services  is  available  to  ships  directly  through  information  provided  by  the  port  State  or  the coastal State.

 

4.3       The  form,  format  and  language  of  identity  documents,  of  public  authorities,   and  of emergencyresponseservicesandofpilotsareregulatedbynationalorlocallegislationsandthere isnointernationalstandardtothisend.   Insomecases,suchidentitydocumentsdonotbearthe nameoftheindividualbutsimplyanidentificationnumberwhichmaybealphanumericormay notincludethenameoftheindividualbutsimplyaphotographoftheholder.  Ifthelanguageof theidentitydocumentsisnotinEnglish,FrenchorSpanishtheseshouldhaveatranslation,in one of the three, preferably English, included in the same document of identity.

 

4.4       Public  authorities,  emergency  response  services  and  pilots  whether  in  uniform  or  not, should  present  an  identity  document  when  seeking  to  board  a  ship.   Section  A/17.2.13  of  the ISPSCoderequirestheportfacilitysecurityofficer(PFSO)toassistshipsecurityofficer(SSOs)

inconfirmingtheidentityofthoseseekingtoboardtheshipwhenrequestedandtheportfacility plan(PFSP)should,inaccordancewithparagraphB/16.8.13oftheISPSCode,establishforall securitylevels,theproceduresforassistingSSOsinconfirmingtheidentityofthoseseekingto board  the  ship.  When  presenting  identity  documents  the  person  concerned  should  be  ready  to providecontactdetailswhichallowthevalidityoftheidentificationdocumenttobeverified,in addition to the information provided to the ship, in accordance with the paragraph 4.2above.

 

4.5       Emergency   response   services   need   to   show   only   the   identity   document   of   the person-in-charge of the team responding to the incident, where practicable.  The person-in-charge should be able to informthe ship the number of emergency response personnel who are boarding.

 

4.6       Theissueofvisitoridentificationdocumentsbytheshiptopublicauthorities,emergency response  services  and  pilots  who  have  provided,  when  seeking  to  board  the  ship,  verifiable identitymaynotbewarrantedandmayexhibit,inlieuofvisitoridentificationdocumentsissued by  the  ship,  their  official  identification  documents.  If  the  aforesaid  do  not  display  visitor identificationdocumentsissuedbytheship,thisfactshouldnotbeconstruedasafailureofthe  shiptoimplementortomaintainappropriatesecuritymeasures.   Publicauthorities,emergency response  services  and  pilots  should  not  be  required  to  surrender  their  official  identification documents when boarding a ship.

 

Relatedreference: SectionA/17.2.13andparagraphsB/4.18,B/9.11andB/16.8.13oftheISPS Codeandparagraph2.7oftheInterimguidanceoncontrolandcompliancemeasurestoenhance maritime security (resolution MSC.159(78)).

 

 

5 Searches

5.1       Publicauthoritiesproperlyidentifiedandactinginthecourseoftheirdutiesshouldnotbe subject to searches by the shipboardpersonnel when boarding the ship.

 

5.2       At  the  discretion  of  the  master  or  of  the  SSO,  properly  identified  emergency  response personnelwhoarerespondingtoanemergency,forexampleafireonboard,shouldnotbesubject to search by shipboard personnel when boarding the ship.

 

5.3       The  engagement  of  pilots  is  in  various  locations  compulsory  and  pilotage  is  subject  in certain  countries  to  local  regulations  and  practices.  Pilots  boarding  at  sea  and  at  the  dock  are subjecttoaccesscontrolmeasuresatthediscretionofthemasterortheSSOinaccordancewith

theprovisionsofSSP.  ThemasterortheSSOshouldcommunicatewiththepilotstoensurethat access control measures for pilots boarding at sea are conducted in such a way that the pilot is not precludedfromreachingthebridgeintimetoconductthemaster-pilotinformationexchangeand begin  providing  piloting  services  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  ship  and  for  the  safety  of navigation.   Ifnecessarytoensurethatthepilothastimelyaccesstothebridge,verificationsof employment  and  other  access  control  measures,  such  as  searches,  in  accordance  with  the provisions  of  the  SSP  may  be  waived  once  the  identity  of  the  pilot  has  been  verified  to  the satisfaction   of   the   master   or   SSO.   Pilot   organizations   are   encouraged   to   develop pre-authorization and pre-clearanceprocedures with ships tofacilitate the boarding of pilots.

 

Related reference: Paragraphs B/9.14, B/9.15 and B/9.16.5 of the ISPS Code.

 

6 Escorting

6.1       It  is  a  customary  practice  to  escort  the  pilot  fromthe  deck  to  the  navigation  bridge  on arrival and fromthe navigation bridge to the deck during the departure ofthe pilot.

 

6.2       Itisreasonabletoexpectthatpublicauthoritiesandemergencyresponseservicemaynot be  familiar  with  the  layout  of  the  ship  and  thus  escorting  them  whilst  on  board  might  be  the prudentcourseofaction.However,itisrecognizedthatincertaincases,eitherduetothenumber of  the  shipboard  personnel  or  due  to  the  prevailing  circumstances  at  the  time,  it  might  not  be possibleorpracticabletoescortpublicauthoritiesthroughthedurationoftheirstayonboard.In suchacase,themasterand/ortheSSOshouldhaveageneralunderstandingastothemovements

ofpublicauthoritiesandemergencyresponseservicesonboard.Thefactthatpublicauthorities andemergencyresponseservicesmightconducttheirdutiesunescortedshouldnotbeconstrued as  a  failure  of  the  ship  to  implement  appropriate  security  measures,  neither  a  case  to  prevent public authorities and emergency response services to perform their duties.

 

 

6.3       Whenthearrangementstobemadefortheescortofpublicauthoritiesandofemergency response  services  and  of  the  pilots  are  provided,  they  should  be  such  as  not  to  unnecessarily delay, in any way, the performance of their duties.

 

Related reference: Paragraph B/9.16.6 of the ISPS Code.

 

7 Access To Restricted Areas On Board

7.1       In  the  course  of  routine,  emergency,  or  law  enforcement  duties,  public  authorities  and emergency  response  services  may  require  access  to  restricted  areas  identified  by  the  SSP accordingtotheparagraphB/9.1oftheISPSCode,itisexpected,oncethereasonsforseeking accesstoarestrictedareahavebeenestablishedoriftheyindicatethatsuchestablishmentwould amounttheobstructionoftheperformanceoftheirduties,thattheshipwouldimmediatelymake arrangements for the access to such areas.

 

7.2       Although  the  navigation  bridge  is  likely  designated  as  a  restricted  area,  pilots  require accesstothebridgetoperformtheiressentialsafetyactivities.Pilotsshouldbegrantedaccessto thebridgewithouttheneedtoestablishanyotherreasononcetheidentityofthepilothasbeen established to the satisfaction of the master and/or SSO.

 

Related reference: Paragraph B/9.20 of the ISPS Code.

 

8 Firearms

8.1       ThenationallegislationofeachStateprovideswhichpublicauthoritiesandunderwhat circumstancesaretocarryfirearmsduringtheperformanceoftheirduties.   Themasterandthe SSO should expect that various public authoritieswill be armed when on board.

 

                      8.1.1    These officials should not be asked to surrender their firearms when boarding a ship.

 

8.2       ParagraphB/16.7oftheISPSCoderecommendsthattheuseoffirearmsonornearships andinportfacilitiesmayposeparticularandsignificantsafetyrisks,inparticularinconnection withcertaindangerousorhazardoussubstancesandshouldbeconsideredverycarefully.Armed publicauthorityofficialsshouldseek,whenboardingaship,tobeadvisedwhethertheshipis carrying  any  dangerous  goods  or  hazardous  substance  and  if  unfamiliar  with  the  hazards associatedwithsuchmaterials,shouldseekspecificadviceonsafetyprecautionstobeobserved. SOLAS  Contracting  Governments  should  ensure  that  public  authorities  that  are  authorized  to carryweaponsareawareofthespecificriskstosafetythatarepresentinrespecttothecarriage of dangerous goods or hazardous substances on board ships and port facilities.

 

8.3       Thepresenceofanyfirearmsonboardbelongingtopublicauthorities,whethersucharms weredeclaredornotwhenboardingtheship,shouldnotbeconstruedasafailureoftheshipto implement or to maintain appropriate security measures.

 

9 Recommended Practice

9.1       The shipboard personnel responsible for controlling the access tothe ship should:

 

.1         unlessotherarrangementshavebeenpreviouslymadeby,orthrough,theagentof theship,seekfromthepublicauthorities,theemergencyresponseservicesandthe pilots  when  boarding  the  ship,  the  presentation  of  their  identification  document andfromthepublicauthoritiesandtheemergencyresponseservicesthepurpose of their intended visit;

 

.2         record  the  details  of  the  identification  document  presented,  if  such  a  recording wouldnotamounttoobstructionofthepersoninquestionintheperformanceof his or her duties;

 

.3         escort,  when  necessary  and  without  unnecessary  delay,  the  public  authorities  or emergency response services to their intended destination on board;

 

.4         advise,ifappropriate,withoutdelay,themasterandtheSSOastothearrivalof the public authorities, the emergency response services or of the pilot; and

 

.5         verifytheauthenticityoftheidentity,oridentificationdocumentiftheshiphas serious  reasons  for  doubting  the  authenticity  of  the  identification  document presented,  without  obstructing  any  public  authority  or  the  emergency  response services from the performance of their duties.

 

• Informatietype: Internationaal
• Documentsoort: Circulaire niet in wetten.nl
• Toegangsrechten: Extern
• Identificatie: PUC_1879_14
• Versie: 1
• Datum beschikbaarheid: 07-11-2007
• Geldigheid van: 23-05-2005
• Wijzigingsdatum: 24-11-2016
• Titel: 1156 - Guidance On The Access Of Public Authorities, Emergency Response Services And Pilots On Board Ships To Which Solas Chapter xi-2 And The Isps Code Apply
• Organisatie: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• Taal: Nederlands
• Onderwerp: Veiligheid / Safety
• Hoofdtaak: Koopvaardij / Merchant Shipping
• Thema: Zeevaart / Seagoing ships / Information / IMO Instruments (Informative) / Circulars (Informative) / MSC Circulars (Informative) / 1100 until 1199