Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties

In the past, passenger ships have been widely targeted by terrorism at sea, due to the high publicity and large potential demands on exchange for a large number of human lives. However, in recent times pirates have varied their focus and started hijacking cargo ships and taken crew hostage for demanding ransom.

Since the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, security has become a major issue confronting the maritime world. At a conference of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held in December 2002, a new security requirement was introduced for the Shipping Industry, namely the ‘International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code’. Initially a lot of companies and training institutes introduced ISPS familiarisation courses to educate their company personal and the seafarers. Later SSO Course became a mandatory course for a seafarer who acts as a SSO on-board. STCW 2010 made it mandatory that any on-board staff with designated security duties needs to be trained and in came STSDSD, DG Shipping approved ISPS course.

STCW introduced mandatory training for Ship Security Officer on 1st January 2008 under Reg VI, Code A-VI/5. Now with the increasing number of Piracy and armed robbery incidents happening in many parts of the world STCW amendment 2010 has made mandatory w.e.f. 1st January 2014 security training for all seafarers with designated security duties, so as to provide them with the knowledge and training to implement procedures to make their ship a more secure place.

The course intends to provide knowledge, understanding and skills to seafarers who will be designated to perform on-board security duties. After the training, the participants shall be able to:

• Know current security threats and patterns.
• Recognize how to detect weapons, dangerous substances, and devices.
• Recognize, on a non-discriminatory basis, of characteristics, and behavioural patterns of persons who are likely to threaten security.
• Know the techniques used to circumvent security measures.
• Understand crowd management and control techniques.
• Understand security related communications.
• Explain emergency procedures, and contingency plans.
• Operate security equipment and systems, e.g. handheld metal detectors.
• Know the procedures in testing, calibration and at-sea maintenance of security equipment and  systems.
• Know the inspection, control, and monitoring techniques.
• Apply the proper techniques in physical searches of persons, personal effects, and baggage.
• Know the methods of physical searches of cargo and ship’s stores.