It has been consolidated with existing IMO maritime security related material into an easily read companion guide to SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code. Please refer to Guide to Maritime Security and the ISPS Code, 2012 Ed.
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) was adopted by a Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, convened in London from 9 to 13 December 2002.
The Code aims, among other things, to establish an international framework for co-operation between Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries to detect security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade and to establish relevant roles and responsibilities at the national and international level.
These objectives are to be achieved by the designation of appropriate personnel on each ship, in each port facility and in each ship owning company to make assessments and to put into effect the security plans that will be approved for each ship and port facility.
The Conference also adopted several related resolutions and amendments to chapters V and XI (now divided into chapters XI-1 and XI-2) of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended. Under the new chapter XI-2, which provides the umbrella regulations, the ISPS Code became mandatory on 1 July 2004.
The Code is divided into two parts. Part A presents mandatory requirements, part B recommendatory guidance regarding the provisions of chapter XI-2 of the Convention and part A of the Code. This publication includes the ISPS Code, relevant amendments to the SOLAS Convention and other resolutions of the Conference relating to work that must be completed before the Code can be implemented in 2004, revision of the Code, technical co-operation and co-operative work with the International Labour Organization and the World Customs Organization. The version of this publication shown here is the version authorized by IMO. Any version obtained from other sources should be used with great caution.
