Vessel and Port Security

The U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency for U.S. port and vessel security and in late 2001 it published new rules requiring each commercial vessel bound for the U.S. to file a Notice of Arrival (NOA) message 96 hours prior to arrival at the first U.S. port of call. The NOA includes vessel, voyage, cargo and crewmember information and can now be filed electronically with the Coast Guard National Vessel Movement Center using a new system call eNOA. Learn more about NOA >>

In recognition of the need for a consistent global approach to maritime security, in December 2002, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), led by the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, adopted a comprehensive new ship and port facility security regime called the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which entered into force on July 1, 2004.

Specifically, the Code requires that each vessel whose flag state is a party to the IMO Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to develop and implement a ship security plan. Similarly, the Code requires each SOLAS port facility to develop and implement a facility security plan that is approved by the country in which the port facility is located. Read more about the IMO, ISPS and SOLAS >>

At the same time, the U.S. Coast Guard issued final regulations to implement the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and meet the U.S. responsibilities as a signatory to SOLAS and the ISPS Code. The MTSA rules also took effect July 1, 2004 and require, among other things, the completion of port and vessel vulnerability assessments, the creation of a national and area maritime security plans, and the creation of vessel and port facility security plans. Read a Summary of Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 >>

The U.S. Coast Guard monitors compliance to ISPS and MTSA and their Port State Control teams carry out approximately 25 ISPS security inspections each day. Since these regulations were issued, the overall percentage of major control actions taken due to non-compliance has been smaller than expected, standing at 1.5% and declining at the end of 2005. Read more about Port State Control >>

More Information

Cargo Security

Personnel Security

Port and Maritime Security News

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