Ship Safety and Security

• US Congress is discussing 100% inspection of all cargo on passenger airplanes and container ships before they commence voyage to any US port (since Aug. 2006). The background to this is found in an interagency subcommittee ("working group") memorandum on Port Security: Shipping Containers.
  
  
• DVD Guide on Conventions relating to ship arrest and security of ship during arrest in different jurisdictions (countries) by Lloyd's Maritime Academy together with Shiptalk. Contact: sarah-jane.adams"at"informa.com for details on how to get your copy (instead of "at" you type: @).
  
  
• List of ships arrested - go to global map and click on the region you want to check. If your ship already is arrested you find advice on procedures for you to follow to release the ship and a list of lawyers you can contact
  
  
• Safety info on individual ships currently in service. To be able to use this feature you have to register yourself first. Also a considerable number of links to authorities concerned with ship safety.
  
  
• Safety Management [ EHS, i.e. Environment, Health, and Safety ] free world wide regulations newsletter published bimonthly.
  
  
• On April 06, 2008, the UK "Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007" came into force (    0.5 MB). In combination with ISM code rules Designated persons may be made responsible for death onboard following an maritime accident.
  
  
• Port State Control summary with links to ship detention lists. The detention lists give the reasons why each ship has been stopped.
  
  
• IMO list of certificates to be kept onboard (pdf format)  .
  
  
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Guide for Ship Security ( ISPS ), free download (PDF-Format, 300 pages, 1.2 MB). If your computer doesn't support the Acrobat/pdf reader you can download Adobe Reader 8.0 for free ( 128 MB ).
  
  
• The old ( original ) EPIRB distress beacon works on 121.5 MHz and is not detected by satellite after February 01, 2009. All vessels and mariners are therefore urgently urged to switch to the digital model ( 406 MHz ) before that. Remember to register your new EPIRB with your flag state's radio communication authority. Concerns all vessels under ISPS.
  
  
• E-course for Certificate in Terrorism Studies ( 16 weeks ), including Maritime Terrorism and Security.
  
  
• ISPS code security officer courses in US and UK.
  
  
• Effective July 01, 2009, licensed US mariners designated as Vessel or Ship Security Officers ( VSO ) will have to have either passed an Approved Vessel Security Course or taken an USCG approved Refresher course and either worked in the position of a VSO or have taken an approved VSO course.
  
  These requirements make the Refresher course mandatory. One such course is started by California Maritime Academy, which is part of California State University.
  
  
• There is a discussion with several threads in marine security on g-captain's forum (2009).
  
  
• Ship Safety Officer and a separate Ship Security Officer courses, two days each. in Subic Bay, close to Manila, in the Philippines. Ship Safety Officer's course according to requirements in United Kingdom's merchant shipping legislation. Ship Security Officer course according to ISPS requirements. Both courses with accreditation from Panama Maritime Authority.
  
  
• Israeli-US Institute of Terrorism, Research, and Response gives emergency guidance during an unexpected crisis.
  
  
• Get "Guidance on Emergency Responder Personal Protective Equipment for Response to CBRN * Terrorism Incidents" [ NIOSH - US ] 06/2008 (* Chemicals, Biological agents, Radiological particulate hazards ).
  
  
• A forum post about the availability of marine / maritime security officer employment worldwide onboard ships and ashore.
  
  
• There are some links to marine / maritime security employment on Marine-Maritime Job Links.
  
  
• List of US reports and studies by: Congressional Research Service, Government Accountability Office, Department of Homeland Security, Department of the US Navy, etc. concerning imports of terrorist weapons, USCG inspections, possible terrorist attacks, overall port and terminals security, port disaster planning and recovery, etc. ( Going back from 2008 all the way to 2001 ).
  
  
• US Coast Guard regulations for drug testing of seamen, ( including alcohol ), has been revised - Dec. 2005 - and concerns all persons ( including seafarers ) directly involved in a serious marine accident in US waters.
  
  
• The Liability Court case for MT Erika - which split in half and spilt 20.000 tonnes of oil on December 12, 1999 - was decided on January 16, 2008. The court considered that negligence by the owner, the operator, and the classification company were linked directly to the shipwreck and subsequent oil spill.

• Maritime Accident blog and podcast. English - Tagalog.
  
  
• Have you or your friend been injured in an accident onboard or offshore ? Worldwide Legal Assistance. Mainly for American seafarers only. Se Habla Español.
  
  
• Marine accident, near miss reporting, and other ISM code information.
  
  
• On May 2008 IMO adopted a new Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident ( Casualty Investigation Code ). The Code will require a marine safety investigation to be conducted into every "very serious marine casualty", defined as a marine casualty involving the total loss of the ship or a death or severe damage to the environment.
  
  
• IMO Guidelines for the Control of Ships in an Emergency ( Article ). The goals of the guidelines are to:
  
  • identify chains of command,
    
  • organize salvage efforts, and
    
  • prevent pollution.
  The guidelines are an implementation of ISM. To avoid liability ship Masters and owners must ensure that emergency situations are handled in accordance with appropriate rules. [You must register and log in to access the article.]
  
  
• The Standard P & I Club has published "Guidance on anti-piracy measures".
  
  
• British House of Commons has published (July 2006) a report on Transport-Maritime Piracy, with recommendations for measures ( including Maritime Terrorism ).
  
  
• Australian Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003, as amended up to 03/2007 (pdf, 0.5 MB).
  
  
• Summary of International Ship & Port Facility Security ( ISPS ) Code.