SOLAS Convention Implementation Office

03-5253-8111(45184), 03-5253-8071

　

Important notice for the International shipping sector and International Port sector

Law for the security of ships and of port facilities

　The law will come into force from 1st July 2004, before the date the required preparation will be started from 23rd April 2004.
　The law was developed in accordance with SOLAS Convention, which was amended in December 2002. The law requires ships and port facilities, which engaged on international services, to conduct self-guards measures and also it requires all ships, which come from foreign ports and entering into ports in Japan, to report the security information of ships to Japan Coast Guard (JCG), if JCG finds out any threat on board the ships, the law enable JCG to conduct additional steps of measures, such as denial entry into ports. (Click here to find out more detail (PDF))
　We would be grateful for your understanding and cooperation to prevent the maritime security-relating incident, such as terrorism, through the compliance with the following provisions.

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Q&A
Q. What kinds of ships the law applies?
A. The following types of ships engaged on international voyages are subject to the law:

• Passenger ships; and
• Cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards, except ships provided regulation 3 of Chapter I SOLAS Convention.

Q. What kinds of requirements are obliged to the ships?
A. All ships, which fly flags of Japan and engaged on international voyages, have to comply with the requirements such as followings:

• Conducting Self-Guards, such as access control, checking of cargo and monitoring the security of the ship;
• Installation of Ship security alert system;
• Designation of Ship security officer; and
• Developing and implementation of Ship security plan, which includes how the ship complies with above requirements
  　(Click here to find out more detail)
• The ship is not able to be engaged on international voyage, unless the ship has approved ship security plan and valid International Ship Security Certificate, which issued by government after the verification.

Q. What kinds of port facilities the law applies?
A. Port facilities, such as quays or anchorage areas, which serves for the ships engaged on international voyages.

Q. What kinds of requirements are obliged to the port facilities?
A. Port facilities above mentioned, have to comply with the requirements such as followings:

• Conducting Self-Guards, such as access control, checking of cargo and monitoring the security of the port facilities;
• Installation of facilities, such as fencing or lighting;
• Designation of Port facility security officer; and
• Developing and implementation of Port facility security plan, which includes how the port facility complies with above requirements
  　(Click here to find out more detail)
• The port facility security plan should be approved by government.

Q. What is the security information of ships?
A. All ships, which come from foreign ports and entering into ports in Japan, without exception, have to report the security information of ships to Japan Coast Guard’s office, 24 hours in advance prior entry into ports
　(Click here to find out more detail)

Q. How can I get more relating information?
A. Please ask the nearest office of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or Japan Coast Guard.
　(Click here to find out the address of the offices (PDF))

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Security Measures for Ships Engaged on International Voyages

　From 1st july2004, All ships, which fly flags of Japan and engaged on international voyages, are required to carry out necessary measures for security of ships (security measure)

Q&A
Q. What types of security measures are to be implemented?
A. Corresponding to the security level which Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport sets up, all ships entitled to fly the flags of Japan which engaged in international voyages should take measures to enhance ship's security.
　Concretely, the higher the security level sets, the higher the degree of the security measures to be taken will also raise, and vice versa.

Q. By what time does a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) have to be provided to ships ?
A. A Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) is a system that transmits a security alert to Japan Coast Guard, identifying the ship, its location, and including other security information of the ship under threat or it has been compromised. And other functions of the SSAS are to continue the security alert until deactivated and/or reset, to be capable of being activated from the navigation bridge and in at least one other location, not to activate an audible and visual alarm, etc.
A grace period of installation of the SSAS is as follows;

　 For oil tankers, passenger ships, chemical tankers, etc,
Not later than the first survey based on the Ship Safety Law (Periodical, Intermediate and Occasional survey) after 1 July 2004.

　For other kind of ships mentioned in above,
Not later than the first survey based on the Ship Safety Law (Periodical, Intermediate and Occasional survey) after 1 July 2006.

Q. What person do the security officer assign?
A. A Company Security Officer (CSO) shall be designated other than ship’s crew.
　 They have to acquire the knowledge and capability which enhance the security of the ship.
Similarly,　Ship Security Officer (SSO) shall be designated on each ship.
They have to follow the SSO training course by Marine Technical College in accordance with provision of “Law for the security of ships and of port facilities.”

Q. How to make a Ship Security Plan (SSP) ?
A. A Ship Security Plan (SSP) is developed by a ship owner based on a Ship Security Assessment (which is documented assessment indicating the impediment content and its degree of affecting or likelihood of affecting security of the ship, considering the ship's structure, facilities, and other related factors in the event of hazardous actions committed against the ship.), which is developed by a ship owner. The SSP includes and describes provisions concerning security of the ship, such as the security measures to be carried out on board, the installation of the SSAS, the designation of the CSO and the SSO, taking place of drills. The Ministry land, infrastructure and transport (Maritime Bureau) will publish "The Guidelines for the development of the SSP". The SSP have to be kept on board.

※　If you need further information, please contact the nearest District Transport Bureau (PDF)

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Security Measures for International Port Facilities

　From 1st July 2004, security measures must be implemented at major ports serving ships engaged on international voyages beyond a certain frequency.

Q&A
Q. What types of security measures are to be implemented?
A. The following measures are required for port facilities serving ships engaged on international voyages:

　 Controlling access of people and cars to restricted areas, supervising the handling of cargo to be loaded onto ships, monitoring within and around the port facilities,

　Installation of security equipment, such as fence and lighting,

　Designation of a port facility security officer (responsible for implementing the port facility security measures),

　Training for implementing the port facility security measures,

　Development a port facility security plan (including 〜).

Q. Which international port facilities are subject to these security measures?
A. Securities measures are mandatory at important international wharf facilities which serve passenger ships more than once a year or cargo ships more than twelve times a year, including the international water areas (Basin, Access channel) in ports with such facilities.

Q. Who is responsible for the implementation of the security measures?
A. Owners and managers are responsible for implementation of security measures at wharf facilities while port management bodies are responsible for water areas (Basin, Access channel).

Q. How are ships sailing from non-compliant port facilities treated in other countries?
A. Such ships could be subject to strict checks upon entering ports of other countries, incurring a substantial loss of time and money.

Q. What types of restriction are implemented at the compliant facilities?
A. ID is checked at the gate to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the port. Restricted areas within a port are also established as required.
A restricted area is also set up in the water area in front of the wharf, and it is prohibited for ships without due cause to enter the area.

※　If you need further information, please contact Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, jurisdictional Regional Development Bureau, or jurisdictional Okinawa General Bureau. (PDF)

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Important notice for all ships, which come from foreign ports and entering into ports in Japan.

Requirement of reporting the Security Information of Ship to Japan Coast Guard (JCG)

　From 1st July 2004, all ships, which come from foreign ports and intend to enter ports in Japanese waters, have to report the security information of ships to appointed Japan Coast Guard offices prior entry into ports.

• Any ship which intends to enter a Japanese port from a foreign country is required to report, regardless of their nationality, their size of ship, type of ship, etc.
• Those ships entering into specific areas regulated in the law, namely Tokyo Bay, Isewan or Setonaikai are also required to report this information.
• This report is required only when previous ports of call were a foreign port.(Therefore, it is not required for a voyage to a second Japanese port if the previous port had been a Japanse port.)

Q&A
Q. What is the Security Information of the Ship?
A. Prior the ship entries into the port in Japan, Japan Coast Guard examines the information to clarify whether the appropriate security measures have been conducted on board, and there are no security problems with the ship, which comes from foreign port and intends entering into port of Japan. (Click here to find out more detail)

Q. When should the ship be submitted?
A. Please report 24-hours before entry into port.
In case of entering into the aforementioned specific area, please report even 24 hours before entering into those specific area.

Q. Whom should the report be submitted to?
A. Please report to the Coast Guard office which has jurisdiction of the port where you intend to enter.
In case you intend to navigate in a specific area without calling on any Japanese port, please report to the coast guard office listed on the notification.(Please ask the nearest office of Japan Coast Guard. (PDF))

Q. Who should submit the report?
A. Captain, owners, and those representatives ( agency etc.) can submit the report.

Q. What is the method of the report?
A. EDI, Fax, mail, hand delivery, etc. are acceptable.

Q. What should I do when it seems to be difficult to enter into port or specific area at the ETA of the report owing to unavoidable reasons such as bad weather?
A. Please report immediately to a predetermined reporting place.
However, when there is imminent danger and it is necessary to enter into port immediately, please report immediately after entry into port. (Please ask the nearest office of Japan Coast Guard. (PDF))

Q. What kind of penalty will be applied when the ship entered into port in Japan, without report the information, or with false report?
A. A fine will be enforced on the captain who did not report, or those who submitted a false report, of one year or less of penal servitude, or up to a 500,000 yen fine, as well as possible extended delays entry into port and departure..

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Ship security information includes following items relating to the ship, which is going to entry into port in Japan:

1. Name of ship;
2. IMO number;
3. Type of ship;
4. Flag of ship;
5. Port of Registry;
6. Gross tonnage;
7. Name of Owner and their business address(es);
8. Name of Operator and their business address(es), if applicable;
9. Name of agent of captain or owner and their business address(es), if applicable;
10. Name of port and berthing facility and estimated time of entry into port;
11. Entry position into specific area and ETA;
12. All ports of call in Japan after departure and schedule of entrance;
13. Entry position into specific area and ETA after departure;
14. Equipment of Ship Security Alart System or equivalent to Ship Security Alart System;
15. Security level set on the ship;
16. Operating Security level;
17. Name and contact point of Company Security Officer;
18. Name and occupation of Ship Security Officer;
19. Possession of Record Book;
20. Number of ISSC and name of its issuing authority;
21. Information on last ten ports of call;
    a. Names of country and port, and dates of arrival and departure;
    b. Security level set on the ship;
    c. Security level of port;
    d. Security level operated;
    e. Additional security measures; and
    f. Existence of cargoes loaded on board at the port and to be loaded off in Japan. Existence of passengers boarding at the port and to disembark in Japan.
22. Records of past ports of call in Japan;
23. All security incidents and other practical security related information;
24. Call sign; and
25. Communication system with Japan Coast Guard.

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