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DECLARATION OF SECURITY

A Declaration of Security (DOS) is a declaration that addresses the security requirements
that could be shared between a port facility and a ship (or between ships) and will state
the responsibility for security each shall take.

The Ship Security Plan (SSP) should define the decision of the company with regard to the
stage at which additional Declarations of Security should be completed when the ship is
at each security level. The UK guidance as to when completion of Declarations of
Security are required is outlined below:

When the ship is operating at a higher security level than the port facility it has
notified of its intention to enter;
When it intends to enter a port facility that is not required to have a port
facility security plan or appoint a port facility security officer;
When the ship is at a higher security level than the port facility (where the port
facility is at a higher security level than the ship, it is for the port facility to
initiate the DoS);
In all cases where the ship is operating at security level 3;
When a ship/ship interface takes place outside the harbour area, whether or
not the other ship is required to have a ship security plan, or at what security
level the other ship is operating at;
Following a security incident or security threat to the ship, or the port facility
or ship it is interfacing with;
When the security level is increased while the ship is in port or ship/ship
interface is taking place;
When so requested by a duly authorised UK Government officer ;
When carrying or intending to load or discharge cargoes listed within classes
Explosives, toxic substances, radioactive contained in the UN Model
Regulations on Dangerous goods.

Specific requirements may also be given to individual ships, ship types and for specific
ports and in these cases an acknowledgement of the instruction is required.

The DoS is effectively a contract between a ship and a port facility or a ship and another
ship that confirms the security responsibilities of each party during the ship/ship interface
or ship/port interface. On an operational basis, a DoS may be requested by either a PFSO
or SSO within the terms of the ISPS code, but a DoS MUST be drawn up within the
framework of the UK guidance as to when completion of Declarations of Security is
required as outlined above.

Ships must have available copies of any DoS from the last ten calls at port facilities
(including ship-to-ship interfaces) for inspection by officers duly authorised by a port
facilitys Government. This should be kept with any other information about its last ten
calls at port facilities (see ISPS Code Part B paragraphs 4.37 and 4.38). Additionally ships
must retain a copy of any DoS, for inspection by officers duly authorised by the UK
Government for a period of three years.

Ships can expect a UK port facility to request completion of a DoS under the following
circumstances:

When any non-SOLAS ship requires entry to a port - in the case of ships below
convention size, the decision as to whether a DoS should be initiated will depend on
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the type of vessel, its previous port(s) of call and whether it could, for example, have
carried out a ship to ship interface at sea when items could have been transhipped.
Advice on individual cases can be sought from Transec/MCA, but in any case a DoS
must be initiated when the port facility is at security levels 2 or 3;

In all cases where a port facility is operating at Security level 3;

When any ship at Security level 3 enters the port;

When the port facility and the ship are at different security levels*;

Following a security incident or security threat to the port facility or the ships
operating within it, e.g. bomb warnings, discovery of weapons/explosives,
unauthorised access to the port facility;

When requested by a duly authorised UK Government officer .
(*The DoS should ensure that the higher of the two security levels is not compromised)

The Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) will be responsible for the administration of the
DoS on behalf of the port facility. Those port facilities that do not have a PFSO under the
Code must nominate a responsible person who will perform the tasks of the PFSO in
respect of the administration of the DoS. This person and his contact details must be
notified to TRANSEC. This person can be responsible for more than one port facility. The
ships Master or Ship Security Officer (SSO) is responsible for the administration of the
DoS on behalf of the ship.

UK port facilities and ships must respond to a request for a DoS by another party. Both
parties will liase with the other to ensure that all measures required at the relevant
security level are in place and operated to a satisfactory standard. The DoS shall address
the security requirements for the specific ship/port or ship-to-ship interface and detail
what measures can be shared or additionally provided and by whom.

Where a DoS is required a procedure based on the following must be included in the SSP:
The SSO should:-
Contact the PFSO
Check the security level of the port facility concerned and compare with
that for the ship.
Ensure the DoS form in use by the port accords with the ISPS code.
Obtain details of security measures the port has in place or intends to
carry out.
Draw up list of security requirements needed (from the port facility) to
support the ship security level.
Agree details with the PFSO.
Complete the DoS for signature by both parties.
Ensure retention of DoS for inspection.
Changes in security levels during the operation of a DoS may require
revision of the DoS.