Port Facility Security

As an archipelagic nation with the second longest coastline in the world, ports play a crucial role for Indonesia in regional, national and international scale.

Because of this crucial role, implementing holistic security measures become mandatory to ensure the continuity of all activities taking place in the port. 

So, what are the measures that need to be implemented to create holistic security measures in a port?

ISPS Code and Port Security

At the international level, the security of port facilities needed to comply with the ISPS Code.

Port facilities that need to comply with the ISPS Code are port facilities that serve ships engaged in international voyages (the type of ships needed to comply with the ISPS Code were also mentioned in the code).

Several things related to port facility security needed to be taken into account for a port facility to be considered in compliance with the ISPS Code. Such as:

• Assessing the security of a port facility
• Developing the port facility security plan

Among other things.

Assessing the Security of a Port Facility

An assessment of the security of a port facility should be done once an objective for security has been set and prior to developing the port facility security plan. 

Beside being held to develop the port facility security plan, the assessment of the security of a port facility should also be reviewed periodically to ensure the relevancy of security risk management with the most current condition and to identify the need of updating it.

In relation with port facilities that need to comply with the ISPS Code, the assessment of the security of a port facility could be done by a Recognized Security Organization (RSO)

Things to be considered in assessing the security of a port facility are:

• Identifying and evaluating important assets and infrastructures that need to be protected
• Identifying threats that could happen to those assets and infrastructures, and the probability of such threats to occur. This identification is done to determine and prioritize countermeasures and its procedural change and effectivity level in mitigating security vulnerabilities
• Identifying weaknesses, including human factor in infrastructures, regulations and procedures

The Port Facility Security Plan

Disclaimer: As per writing this article, there is no official [English] translation of the regulation that will be referred to in this section. All translations were provided by the writer of this article

Based on the Ministerial Regulation No 134 of 2016 on Ship and Port Facility Security Management, the development of the port facility security plan is done by the Port Security Facility Officer.

This development could be helped by a RSO if needed.

Things to be considered when developing the port facility security plan are:

• Measures that are designed to prevent the entrance of unauthorized weapons and other dangerous substances and devices that could be used to harm people, ship or port and its cargoes into the port facility or ships
• Measures that are designed to prevent access to unauthorized parties into the port facility, to ship moored at the facility, and restricted areas of the port facility 
• Procedures in responding to security threats or security breaches, including the provisions to maintain critical operation of the port facility or ship/port interface.
• Procedures in responding security instructions that were given by the designated authority in security level 3
• Evacuation procedures in case a security threat or breach happened 
• Duties for the port facility personnel that are responsible for the security of the port facility and other personnel related to the security of port facility 
• Procedure in interacting with ships security activity
• Procedure to periodically review of the plan and its update
• Identification of the port facility security personnel including 24-hour contact details
• Measures that are designed to ensure the effective security of cargo and the cargo handling equipment
• Procedures to audit the port facility security plan
• Procedure in responding in case the ship security alert system at the port facility was activated
• Procedure to facilitate ship personnel shore leave or personnel changes and access of visitors to the ship including representatives from seafarers’ welfare and labor organizations.

Securing Your Port Facilities

As a recognized security organization (RSO) in Indonesia, Nawakara could help you implement the ISPS Code. Securing your port facilities and ensuring your compliance to the regulation.

Plan, Develop and strengthen your port facility security with Nawakara!