ISPS Code

Background

After the sadly famous terrorist attacks on 11th September 2001 in the United States, the International Community decided, in the core of the IMO (International Maritime Organization), to develop regulations with the aim of preventing possible acts of an antisocial nature that could affect the maritime-port sector.

General Comments

The International Ships and Port Facilities Security Code was introduced as an appendix to the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS Convention, 1974) and came into force on 1st July 2004.

These regulations require a set of actions in port facilities serving the following ships engaged on international voyages:

• Passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft.
• Cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards.
• Mobile offshore drilling units.

To summarize, the basic aforementioned actions are the following:

• Determining the port facilities which will be affected by these rules.
• A port facility security officer (PFSO) shall be designated for each port facility. This person will be designated responsible for the development, implementation, revision and maintenance of the port facility security plan and for liaison with the ship security officers and company security officers.
• A port facility security assessment shall be carried out by the Contracting Government within whose territory the port facility is located. Contracting Governments must approve the Port Facility Security Assessment and subsequent amendments to an approved assessment.
• A port facility security plan shall be developed and maintained, on the basis of a port facility security assessment, for each port facility, adequate for the ship/port interface. Contracting Governments must approve the Port Facility Security Plan and subsequent amendments to an approved Plan.
• Implementing an employee Training Plan related to the the port facilities security.

And all of the above in a framework of 3 security levels related to the level of threats existing at all times. The security levels considered in the code are the following:

• Security Level 1: the level for which minimum appropriate protective security measures shall be maintained at all times.
• Security Level 2: the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of heightened risk of a security incident.
• Security Level 3: the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a security incident is probable or imminent, although it may not be possible to identify the specific target.

Setting of the applicable security level is a responsability of Contracting Governments. In the case of Spain, the responsible is the Interior Ministry.

According to the amendments to the existing provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, it is stated that a Port facility is a location, as determined by the Contracting Government or by the Designated Authority, where the ship/port interface takes place. This includes areas such as anchorages, waiting berths and approaches from seaward, as appropriate.

Implementation of the ISPS code in the Cádiz Bay Port

In the Cadiz Bay Port, the following Port Facilities subject to the ISPS code have been determined:

• Managed by the Port Authority.
  • Dársena Comercial de Cádiz.
  • Dársena de la Zona Franca de Cádiz.
  • Muelle de La Cabezuela-Puerto Real.
  • Fondeaderos y accesos desde el mar.
• • Compañía Gaditana de Contenedores, S.A. (CONCASA)
  • TERMINAL CARGA RODADA CON CANARIAS
  • TERMINAL DE CRUCEROS CÁDIZ
  • TERMINAL DEPÓSITOS PRODUCTOS BITUMINOSOS  ( PUMA ENERGIA ESPAÑA,S.L.U)
  • NAVANTIA, S.A. Astillero de Puerto Real.
  • NAVANTIA, S.A. Astillero de Cádiz.
  • Dragados Offshore, S.A.
  • Depósito de aceites vegetales, biodiesel e Hidrocarburos  C ( OPTRADE )

For each of the port facilities mentioned, a port facility security assessment has been carried out, reviewed and approved, a port facility security plan has been developed, reviewed, approved and implemented and a Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) has been appointed in accordance with the provisions of part A of the ISPS Code.

The coordinator of these regulations in the Bay Of Cadiz Port is Carlos Rodríguez vela, who has been appointed as Port Security Officer. His contact details are as follows: Phone: 956 240400 Mobile: 628269557, Fax 956240479 securityofficer@puertocadiz.com

Summary of Regulations