ISPS

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS):
The ISPS code is an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988) on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports and government agencies. Having come into force in 2004, it prescribes responsibilities to governments, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port/facility personnel to "detect security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade.

The code does not specify specific measures that each port and ship must take to ensure the safety of the facility against terrorism because of the many different types and sizes of these facilities. Instead it outlines a standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling governments to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities.
 
For ships the framework includes requirements for: 

• Ship security plans
• Ship security officers
• Company security officers
• Certain onboard equipment 

For port facilities, the requirements include:

• Port facility security plans
• Port facility security officers
• Certain security equipment

 
In addition the requirements for ships and for port facilities include: 

• Monitoring and controlling access
• Monitoring the activities of people and cargo
• Ensuring security communications are readily available

Security at the terminal