Security-Drills

Today, Maritime security is more important than ever before. Not only must we keep our ship safe at sea, we must keep a careful watch on who comes aboard, what comes aboard, and where to anticipate potential security threats. Shipboard security relies on the vigilance of the officers and crew-- paying attention. Using your eyes, your ears, your common sense, and your knowledge of the security measures required by your ship's security plan. Ship's security plans cover all the aspects of who does what onboard during a security incident. Who reports to who, and who have responsibilities to do certain things under various scenarios. We'll introduce the ship security plan as the basis for your procedures, training, and exercises that increase your vigilance. We'll explain how to properly conduct the security drills and exercises required to conform to security regulations, and we'll get expert commentary from Captain Richard Softye, formerly of the United States Coast Guard, and an expert on vessel security procedures and regulations. A ship's security plan is actually a living document, because it can be used in various scenarios. When the ship is under way at sea, there are certain parts that are used. When it's coming into a port, there are other aspects of the plan that get used. And then once you're in port is the time when you have to integrate with the shoreside facilities for security. OK, so I'll give the duties. Regular drills and exercises are designed to create lifelike situations to test a crew's readiness, reactions, and response. And they're required by law. Drills test specific procedures, like access control, for instance. And must be conducted at least every three months. Exercises involve more components, and the coordination between the components, and must be conducted at least once a year. An example of a drill might be just testing one component, such as communications. In a drill, mustering the troops, having them go to their stations and report in via radio, can be a drill. Exercises are tests of a vessel's security plan, but pull all the components together of communications, coordination, resources, and then ultimately how they respond. Conducting drills and exercises is the responsibility of the ship security officer. The key document used in planning, executing, and recording the results of these drills and exercises is the ship security plan. The first step in initiating a security drill is a communication with the captain, proposing a drill or exercise. Good morning, captain. Good morning. So, as we discussed, today is the day we're doing our quarterly security drill. The drill, or the exercise, is completely up to the ship security officer, who usually discusses the elements for that with the captain on board. The drills can be as extensive or as minimal as is necessary for the security of that particular ship. Yes, last time we had bomb threat drill, so this time probably we will look at the maritime security level one, to raising to a security level two, and what is the extra duties people have to do. The second step in initiating a security drill is to choose and propose a scenario for a drill. A bomb threat, for instance. Yes, according to plan here, surveillance equipment will be operational for the drill, of course. In planning a drill, proposing a scenario for a drill, it's important to consider whether that scenario might involve raising the maritime security level, also known as the MARSEC level. Raising the security level involves additional procedures, and an increased level of awareness and activity. An increase from maritime security level one to maritime security level two could be invoked by the US Coast Guard for the potential of an incident, such as a terrorist threat to a particular segment of the industry, or for a particular port. MARSEC level one is simply the current or normal state of security. Level two is an elevated state, prompted by a potential threat. Level three is the highest level, and usually prompted by a very specific threat. Level two would be an elevated level of security, if there happens to be a potential breach of security at a waterfront facility. It can be the potential of a hazardous material being on board the vessel. It can be based on some communication that has been learned by or has come to the ship from the outside. So captain, as we look at the restricted area scenario-- For a ship's officers and crew, a raised security level means greater vigilance, additional precautions, and practice carrying these out. When you're in port, the US Coast Guard captain of the port usually determines what level of security you're ate. And when it goes from one to two, that's when you go to the vessel security plan, and invoke those changes that elevate the security for that vessel. In the third step, the captain informs the shore and other interested personnel listed in the security plan that a drill is planned. Hello, this is the captain from Westward Olympia. Am I talking to a company security officer? It's crucial that everyone be aware that a drill is taking place-- including the time it will begin, and notification of everyone involved when it is completed. In the fourth step, the captain or ship security officer announces the drill to the ship's company. Your attention, please. This is a drill. I repeat, this is a drill. Drills and exercises usually involve both action and instruction. Individual crew members have predetermined jobs to do, or are instructed in what jobs to do. Drills, since they are to perform individual tasks under the vessel security plan, it is up to the vessel security officer to make that determination-- who's going to be participating in a particular drill. When you're looking at an exercise, that's usually participation by as many crew members as are possible. In the fifth step, the crew musters, and the drill begins. Well, we're going to run a few drills today. We're going to do check restricted areas-- those of you know which of you are supposed to do that one. We're going to do a search accommodations, and also we're going to search below decks. It's very important, you test and you drill the shipboard personnel, that you go from the various levels from one to two, from two to three, because that is the time-- if it's real-- that you don't want to have to question what should we do? So duty officer, would you please assign different crew members to each of these drills? OK, so I'll give the duties-- [? Rysell ?] and [? Moniah, ?] you'll go under the [INAUDIBLE] portside. Drills are exercises involving a change in security or MARSEC level-- meaning added responsibilities for officers, as well as crew, including communications with shoreside security, company ownership, and other key individuals listed in the ship security plan. In step number six, ship's officers are in communication with key shoreside personnel. [RINGING] Warehouses communication center, what is your emergency? Comm center-- this is-- This involves alerting emergency services onshore or in port-- from police to fire crews-- and particularly port facility security personnel. OK, Olympia, you're having a drill. All right, so as we know, today we're doing to do a drill. And the crew knows that we're going from marine security level one to marine security level two. In the event of a change in security level, it's necessary for the ship security officer to meet personally with his shoreside counterpart to formally change the declaration of security, and discuss their coordinated response to the elevated threat. One of the essential parts of testing your vessel security plan is communication, and who you contact. When you're under way at sea, the only person that you are obliged to contact immediately is your company security officer. When you're in port, you have the obligation to not only contact the company's security officer, but also the facility that you're moored to, and also the local law enforcement officials. Your security plan will contain specific measures to take in the event of a security threat. However, no matter what the drill, the steps are pretty much the same-- a decision by the captain and SSO to initiate a drill, choosing a scenario, informing the shore, announcing the drill and mustering the crew, and establishing communications with the people onshore. Controlling access may be the single most important security precaution we can take, when a ship is in port. Controlling access typically means attention to the gangway, and who's attempting to board, and asking for and checking proper identification. In the case of an elevated security level, this may mean personal search, and requiring an escort for access, as well as watching the dockside more carefully. Standard access control would be a gangway watch, and the main gate watch. In this case, we saw an elevation of that to more stringent, sweeping, and looking at vehicles coming through actually at the ship. We had additional security guards being stationed, and onboard, an additional security person at the gangway to assist in that access control. Good morning. Everything is OK? Yeah, everything is OK. Yeah, nobody out-- no outside or inside. OK? OK. If there is a suspension that dangerous or illegal items may have come aboard with a crew member or a guest, searching the accommodation may be necessary. Searching the accommodation requires gaining access to quarters, and asking permission to search if those are occupied, conducting a thorough search, and then reporting the results. When you look at the sweep of a vessel, it could be looked at in a couple of different ways. When you're looking through accommodation spaces, you're looking at things a little bit different than you would in machinery spaces. For instance, in a combination space, you might be looking for an individual, where in other spaces you might be looking for the planting of a bomb. One of the most vulnerable spaces on a ship is below decks, where human cargo, illegal cargo, or even explosives might be hidden. Searching below decks should usually be done in pairs, especially if it involves climbing or other hazards. Crew members should be given assigned areas to search. Adequate lighting is crucial, with backup power and batteries available. Maintain radio contact at all times. Crew members would have to have their assigned areas that they would have to search, whether it be searching for-- in the case of a bomb threat-- a bomb, or searching spaces for persons that are unauthorized to be in that space. [INAUDIBLE] Yeah, we're OK, [INAUDIBLE]. We're at number nine [INAUDIBLE]. [INAUDIBLE] Ships have certain areas where access is restricted. Usually these restrictions are posted, and often the spaces themselves are locked to prevent unauthorized access. Checking restricted areas requires that crew members are assigned specific areas to check. They must know the proper status-- is the space locked or merely closed off? They must check locks for security and report their results immediately. [INAUDIBLE] The ship security officer will note down any instances where there are lapses in security, and record them in his final report. Crew members in port must always be aware of possible intrusions by unauthorized boarders. Usually in port, but even at sea, when there is a danger of piracy. The exterior sides of the ship, and any points of unauthorized access, must be carefully checked, and the crew should be trained in techniques for repelling boarders. To prepare for repelling boarders, crew members must have assigned areas of responsibility, and assigned tasks, such as unrolling, hooking up, and using fire hoses. Crew members should work in teams, or at least pairs, whenever possible. The strong water pressure of a fire hose can be an effective, nonlethal way to repel boarders. Crew members have certain responsibilities in drills and exercises. Both of them would be based on tasks that must be performed, given to them by the superiors. Such as laying out fire hoses for repelling boarders-- that would be something that the crew would have to do. On a modern ship, effective communication is more important than ever. That's doubly true in the event of a security emergency, or heightened security, or even during a drill or exercise. First, you must check regular equipment-- radios, telephones-- to ensure it's operating correctly. Then check special contacts, like emergency phone numbers, to make sure they are in service. Check emergency equipment, such as special phones or buzzers, and any devices that might be used in special conditions, such as during a power failure or blackout. A drill can test just communications, where you have various crew members go to the far extremities of the ship and report in. Or it can be as extensive as having communications built in with a search. As essential as the preparation and execution of a drill are to your success, the conclusion of a drill or exercise can be its most important learning element. In the seventh step in conducting a security drill, the captain or ship security officer, announces to the crew-- and to any shoreside participants-- that the drill is over. Your attention, please your attention, please, the drill is over. I repeat, the drill is over. In the eighth step in conducting a security drill, the crew and officers involved are asked to convene for a debriefing. This is usually conducted by the ship security officer, and may include the captain and the other officers. It's extremely important at the end of both the drill and an exercise, that the ship security officer conducts a debrief with those participants. The obligation that that security officer has is to take a look at all the changes that may be necessary to improve the vessel security plan. The security officer listens carefully, and encourages feedback. It's important not only that everyone improves their performance, but also that they feel their input is useful. In the ninth and final step in conducting a security drill, both the captain and the ship security officer document the drill or exercise in the ship's log, and the SSO's record book. In addition to the log book entry that the captain or the security officer may make in the official logbook, there's also the requirement to have additional records talking about those drills and exercises, recording the date, the participants, the particular scenario, the response, and any improvements that might be necessary as a result of all the debrief. Thorough documentation of security drills and exercises is important for a least two reasons-- it's a source of learning and experience, helping to improve performance, and refine the vessel security plan. And it's your record of compliance with the US Coast Guard, and other port state control authorities. The documentation of both security drills and exercises is important, because the port state control personnel will come in to look at it, to see if it is, in fact, in compliance with the ISPS codes, and-- in the United States-- the Maritime Transportation Security Act. These final three steps are essential to completing a drill or exercise-- announcing the conclusion of the drill, debriefing with the crew, and then documenting your results. Good luck with your own security drills. Use them as a source of learning, team building, and improved performance.