SDSD-Seafarers with Designated Security Duties / ISPS-International Ship and Port facility Security code

ISPS Code – The International Ship and Port facility Security Code is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.

Current Security Threats:

Piracy – as defined in article 101 of the 1982 (UNCLOS) United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:
  1. Any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:
    • On the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;
    • Against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state;
  2. Any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;
  3. Any act inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in sub-paragraph (1) or (2).

PERSONAL MUSTER CARD

Personal Muster Card - contains information which are useful to crew members in an emergency situation. The following are information in the Personal Muster Card:

Crew number, etc., General Emergency Alarm signal, Fire alarn signal, Abandon ship signal, Muster (assembly) station, Emergency duties.

MUSTER LIST

Muster list must be located in places where it can be easily seen. Muster list tells you the following:


WHO YOU ARE - Identifies all crews by name, number, rank, or a combination of both number and rank.

WHERE YOU GO - Identifies the muster stations (assembly stations) which are the designated places on the ship that personnel should go upon hearing the general emergency alarm signal.

WHAT TO DO - Either specific duties are assigned, such as preparations of boats, stairway guides etc., or crew will carry out duties as required - dependent on the nature of emergency.

ALARM SIGNALS

General Alarm - Consist of seven (7) or more short blast followed by one (1) long blast on the ship's whistle. (Instruction: Get ready)Boat Alarm - at least (7) short blast followed by one (1) long blast repeated on the ship's whistle. (Instruction: All to attend their station wearing life jacket)

Fire Alarm - Continous blast of the whistle for a period of not less than 10 seconds followed by continous ringing of the general alarm. (Instruction: All to attend their stations bringing along their assigned fire fighting equipment)
Man Over Board Alarm - the letter "O" sounded at least four times on the ship's whistle followed by the same signal sounded on the fire bells. (Instruction: rescue boat crew to muster station immediately carrying the immersion suit)

ABANDONING SHIP - The order to abandon ship is never given until the master judges it necessary. The ship is the safest survival craft, but if the ship's condition will put people's lives in great danger, abandoning it will be the best option.