Ship security

Under vessel protection means the entire set of preventive and defensive measures against threats of ships and the people on board.

Definition of terms

General understanding: Ship safety in the general sense means measures for fire and leak prevention on board and for rescue in case of distress at sea .

Extended term in merchant shipping: In merchant shipping , ship security also includes measures against threats from pirates, terrorists and other criminal activities.

Extended term in the Navy: In the naval forces , ship safety encompasses an expanded range of tasks, which includes NBC defense and the technical diving service. Ship security is part of the damage prevention, which includes all measures for dealing with combat damage and the on-board medical service. The aim is to restore and maintain the operational capability of the ship even in the event of damage.

International regulations

A number of international agreements on safety regulations exist for merchant shipping, which are monitored by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The ISM Code , which came into force in 1998 , aims to ensure safety at sea, to protect people from harm to life and limb, and to prevent damage to the environment - particularly damage to the marine environment - and property. The ISM-Code defines standards for the safe operation of ships including the precaution for dangerous situations.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), concluded in 1974, stipulates safety measures in the event of an emergency at sea and regulates the equipping of ships with life-saving appliances such as lifeboats and life jackets .

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), which came into force in 2004, prescribes measures for the safety of ships against criminal and terrorist threats.

The International Convention on Standards for the Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW 95) regulates the training of crew members including the ship safety service.

education

At sea, ship crews must be able to avert damage without outside help. Therefore, all crew members are trained to different degrees in the field of ship safety. Important international standards according to STCW 95 are the training to become a lifeboat man, fire protection officer and ship security officer (SSO).

The central training center for ship safety in Germany is the Marine Damage Defense Training Center in Neustadt in Holstein . The branch office for ship safety of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration at the same location uses the naval facilities.