B52-07/03

Issuance Date: 25 July 2003

BAHAMAS MARITIME AUTHORITY

BMA INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 52

Implementation of SOLAS 1974, as amended, Chapters XI-1 & XI-2 and the International Code for the Security of Ships

and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code)

Guidance for Shipowners, Managers, Masters, Bahamas Recognised Organisations, Bahamas Recognised Security Organisations and Bahamas Approved Inspectors This bulletin provides an update on the implementation of SOLAS 1974, as amended, Chapters XI-1 & XI-2 and the ISPS Code NOTE: This bulletin supplements BMA Bulletins 48 and 49, and should be read in conjunction with IMO MSC Circulars 1067, 1072, 1074 and 1097(all available on IMO website: www.imo.org) 1. General 1.1 SOLAS 1974, as amended, Chapters XI-1 & XI-2 and the ISPS Code contain NO provisions for either exemptions from the requirements or extension to the implementation date of the requirements. 1.2 Accordingly, it will be necessary for all applicable Bahamian registered ships to comply with the requirements no later than 01st July 2004. 1.3 Taking into consideration the aforementioned as well as:

• The number of ships requiring certification and the inherent demands for the services of certifying organisations,

• The need to have two (2) months of records for the verification process. The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) strongly advises Owners and Masters of Bahamian registered ships to:

• Undertake the ship security assessment, • Commence the development of their ship security plans, and • Submit the finalised ship security plans and supporting ship security

assessment for approval to the Bahamas Recognised Security Organisation, as listed in Para. 2.1, at the earliest possible opportunity.

1.4 The BMA will circulate further updates on the implementation process.

B52-07/03

Issuance Date: 25 July 2003

2. Recognised Security Organisations (RSO) 2.1 The Bahamas has formally approved the following organisations to undertake the approval of the Ship Security Plan, and the verification and certification of Bahamian registered ships for compliance with the requirements of SOLAS 1974, as amended, Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code:

• American Bureau of Shipping • Bureau Veritas • Det Norske Veritas • Germanischer Lloyd • Korean Register of Shipping • Lloyds Register of Shipping • Nippon Kaiji Kyokai • Registro Italiano Navale

3. Ship Security Plan (SSP) 3.1 The provisions of Part B of the ISPS Code should be used as guidance for the development of the SSP. 3.2 The SSP shall be submitted, with the supporting ship security assessment, to one of the appointed RSOs specified in Para. 2.1 above. A copy of the SSP is not required to be submitted to the BMA. 3.3 The SSP and the records of activities addressed in the SSP shall be in the working language(s) of the ship. If the working language is not English, a translation into English shall be included. 3.4 The records of activities addressed in the SSP and any Declaration of Security shall be maintained onboard for a period that covers the last 10 calls at port facilities. After this period, the specified records should be maintained ashore by the Company, in accordance with the Company’s 1 procedure for recordkeeping or for the period that the Company is responsible for the management of the ship. 4. Company Security Officer (CSO) and Ship Security Officer (SSO) 4.1 The Company1 shall notify the BMA of the contact details of the designated CSO for its Bahamian registered ships. This information shall be provided no later than 01st July 2004 and the format contained in the attached Appendix to this notice may be utilised. 4.2 If the Company1 has designated more than one (1) CSO, the notification shall clearly specify the ship(s) for which each CSO is responsible. 4.3 Currently there is no requirement to certify the CSO or SSO, therefore this Authority will not, in the foreseeable future, be approving any training undertaken by either the CSO or SSO or any other security training courses.

B52-07/03

Issuance Date: 25 July 2003

5. Security Threat level 5.1 It is the intention of the BMA to utilise its existing bulletin system to inform the CSO of the security level applicable to Bahamian registered ships. The security level will also be posted on the BMA website (www.bahamasmaritime.com) 5.2 When required to formally acknowledge a change in shipboard security threat level, the ship is to send its acknowledgement to the Company1. 5.3 The Company1 should maintain a log of the current threat level on board each vessel together with any changes made. 6. Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) 6.1 In accordance with the provision of SOLAS Regulation XI-1/5, all applicable Bahamian registered ships require a CSR. 6.2 The BMA is finalising its process for the production of CSRs. In due course, additional information of the procedures and cost associated with the issuance of CSRs will be circulated. 1

”Company” is the entity responsible for the management of the ship in accordance with the ISM Code.

B52-07/03

Issuance Date: 25 July 2003

APPENDIX 1

EXAMPLE of Notification of Company Security Officer for submission to The Bahamas Maritime Authority

From: Company1 To: The Bahamas Maritime Authority, Technical Department. International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code) – Designation of Company Security Officer (CSO) Under Section 11.1 of the ISPS Code, the Company shall designate a person, the Company Security Officer for the ship. In this connection, the undersigned hereby declares that: Name: Address: Telephone no.: Facsimile no.: Email: is the designated Company Security Officer , who has agreed to take over all duties and responsibility imposed by the ISPS Code, for the following named vessel(s):

Vessel Official Number IMO Number Yours sincerely .…………………. Signature , ……………………. Name ……………………. Position in Company _________________ On behalf of Company 1 ”Company” is the entity responsible for the management of the ship in accordance with the ISM Code.