Circular
Letter
MSC/Circ.1154
GUIDANCE ON TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS
(adopted on 16 May 2005)
1.
The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee) at its seventy-seventh session
(28 May to 6 June 2003), instructed the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training
and Watchkeeping (STW) to develop training and certification requirements for
company security officers.
2.
The STW Sub-Committee at its thirty-fifth session (26 to 20 January 2004)
agreed that neither the STCW Convention nor the STCW Code were appropriate
instruments for including training and certification requirements for company
security officers. STW 35, in view of the fact that company security officers
were shore-based, invited the committee to clarify its instruction relating to
development of training and certification requirements for company security
officers.
3.
The Committee at its seventy-eighth session (12 to 21 May 2004) advised the STW
Sub-Committee that instead of developing mandatory requirements, the Sub-Committee
should develop guidelines on training and certification requirements.
4.
The STW Sub-Committee at its thirty-sixth session (10 to 14 January 2005)
developed guidance for training and documentation for company security
officers.
5.
The Committee at its eightieth session (11 to 20 May 2005) approved the
Guidance, as set out in Annex.
6.
SOLAS Contracting Governments, international organizations and non-governmental
organizations with consultative status which encounter difficulties with the
implementation of the Guidance should bring, at the earliest opportunity, the
matter to the attention of the Committee for consideration of the issues
involved and decision on the actions to be taken.
Annex.
GUIDANCE ON TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS
1.
Every person designated as a Company security officer (CSO) should be able to
demonstrate competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities
listed in column 1 of the Annex to this Circular.
2.
The level of knowledge of the subjects listed in column 2 of the Annex to this
Circular should be sufficient to enable the person to act as the designated
company security officer.
3.
Persons who have satisfactorily completed an approved course based on IMO Model
Course 3.20 on Company security officer, or who have attended a course based on
the attached knowledge, understanding and proficiency (KUP), should be
considered to have met the requirements for service as a company security
officer.
4.
As many of the training objectives in IMO Model Courses 3.19 and 3.20 are
common to both CSO and SSO and further, that many of the KUPs in the competence
tables are similarly common, SOLAS Contracting Governments should therefore
take them into account when setting criteria for the re-training and assessment
of those SSOs moving toward CSO qualifications.
5.
Those completing CSO training should provide documentary evidence to this
effect to the relevant SOLAS Contracting Government, and to the satisfaction of
that Government when requested to do so.
Annex.
KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND PROFICIENCIES (KUPS) RELEVANT TO THE COMPANY
SECURITY OFFICER
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |
|
Competence |
Knowledge, understanding and proficiency |
Methods for demonstrating competence |
Criteria for evaluating competence |
|
Develop,
maintain and supervise the implementation of a Ship Security Plan |
Knowledge
of international maritime security policy and responsibilities of
Governments, Companies and designated persons Knowledge
of the purpose for and the elements that make up a ship security plan Knowledge
of procedures to be employed in developing, maintaining, and supervising the
implementation of, and the submission for approval of a ship security plan Knowledge
of the procedures for the initial and subsequent verification of the ship's
compliance |
Assessment
of evidence obtained from approved training or examination |
Procedures
and actions are in accordance with the principles established by the ISPS
Code and SOLAS as amended. Legislative
requirements relating to security are correctly identified. Procedures
achieve a state of readiness to respond to changes in maritime security
levels |
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |
|
Competence |
Knowledge, understanding and proficiency |
Methods for demonstrating competence |
Criteria for evaluating competence |
|
|
Knowledge
of maritime security levels and the consequential security measures and
procedures aboard ship and in the port facility environment Knowledge
of the requirements and procedures involved with arranging for internal
audits and review of security activities specified in a ship security plan Knowledge
of the requirements and procedures for acting upon reports by the SSO to the
CSO concerning any deficiencies or non-conformities identified during
internal audits, periodic reviews, and security inspections Knowledge
of the methods and procedures used to modify the ship security plan |
|
Communications
within the CSO's area of responsibility are clear and understood |
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |
|
Competence |
Knowledge, understanding and proficiency |
Methods for demonstrating competence |
Criteria for evaluating competence |
|
|
Knowledge
of security related contingency plans and the procedures for responding to
security threats or breaches of security including provisions for maintaining
critical operations of the ship/port interface Working
knowledge of maritime security terms and definitions |
|
|
|
Ensuring
security equipment and systems, if any, are properly operated |
Knowledge
of the various types of security equipment and systems and their limitations |
Assessment
of evidence obtained from approved training or examination |
Procedures
and actions are in accordance with the principles established by the ISPS
Code and SOLAS Convention. Procedures
achieve a state of readiness to respond to changes in the maritime security
levels. Communications
within the CSO's area of responsibility are clear and understood |
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |
|
Competence |
Knowledge, understanding and proficiency |
Methods for demonstrating competence |
Criteria for evaluating competence |
|
Assess
security risk, threat, and vulnerability |
Knowledge
of risk assessment, assessment tools, and procedures for conducting security
assessments Knowledge
of security assessment documentation including the Declaration of Security Knowledge
of techniques used to circumvent security measures Knowledge
enabling recognition, on a non-discriminatory basis, of persons posing
potential security risks Knowledge
enabling recognition of weapons, dangerous substances, and devices and
awareness of the damage they can cause Knowledge
of crowd management and control techniques, where appropriate Knowledge
in handling sensitive security related information and security related
communications Knowledge
of methods for implementing and co-ordinating searches |
Assessment
of evidence obtained from approved training or; Assessment
of evidence obtained from examination and practical demonstration of ability
to: .1
conduct physical searches; .2
conduct non-intrusive inspections |
Procedures
and actions are in accordance with the principles established by the ISPS
Code and SOLAS Convention. Procedures
achieve a slate of readiness to respond to changes in the maritime security
levels. Communications
within the CSO's area of responsibility are clear and understood |
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |