A Day in the Life of a Ship Security Officer: Duties and Challenges

Posted on Nov 18, 2024 at 06:11 AM

The maritime industry is a large and international industry that includes commerce, transportation, and entertainment, thus, guaranteeing ship security with efficient implementation and approved knowledge is vital.

Additionally, these essential safety and security duties and responsibilities are all part of the security ship officer (SSO) job description, thus, any maritime company should aim to work with a professional SSO.

To understand more about the ship security officer (SSO) career, required SSO training, and its attached maritime duties and responsibilities, we encourage you to continue reading our amazing article.

Who Is a Ship Security Officer (SSO)?

Based on the IMO definition, a certified ship security officer is a professional crew member who attended the ISPS code course in London and gained qualification certification to become qualified to manage, support, facilitate, and force ship security details and operations.

Moreover, the ship security officer (SSO) is the one responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the designed ship security plan based on the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code to protect ships and seafarers in navigation duration.

So, in other words, we can say that the ship security officers (SSO) are the ones with professional training who are responsible for protecting assigned vessels and commercial ships from any risk while shipping with comprehensive obligations, protocols, and regulations.

The Key Duties of Ship Security Officer (SSO):

After having maritime professional training, the ship security officer (SSO) will be accountable for specific duties and responsibilities toward the vessel safety requirements and security conditions:

Do Regular Maritime Security Inspections:

As we all know the vessel has many tools, software, and engines that should work efficiently to perform well and stay safe on the sea. Thus, the vessel security officers should conduct regular security inspections to detect threats and issues and plan efficient ship security plans.

Implement and Make Changes to the Ship Security Plan (SSP):

The ship security plan (SSP) is developed according to the ship security assessment (SSA) by the company security officer (CSO), and the officer SSO is the one responsible for understanding and implementing the plan and making or suggesting suitable changes based on their training and coordinating skills.

Manage the Security Aspects During Ship Operations:

One of the master duties of a ship security officer (SSO) in the maritime industry is ensuring the designated implementation of safety and surveillance measures based on the national or international authority through all maritime training and procedures, from loading to unloading, and other procedures on port and the vessel.

Report Deficiencies and Security Incidents to the Company Security Officer (CSO):

The ship security officer is the one responsible for reporting any security deficiencies, collapses, or accidents directly to the officer CSO to guarantee the security of the ship, facility security, and complete maritime security and make the required changes to the program accordingly.

Improve Security Awareness Onboard:

The officer SSO training prepares the officers for safety and security awareness on the vessel board with efficient and regular practices, moreover, the ship security officer can provide training sessions to all the crew members, so the participants are ready to undertake any situation with the right requirements.

Coordinate with CSO and Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO):

Efficient communication and collaboration among the CSO, PFSO, and SSO officers are vital management details for any maritime company to ensure the safety of its vessels, achieve service objectives, and maintain good security measures in all operations through shipping days.

Maintain Full Functioning of Used Security Equipment:

Doing regular maintenance and appointed checks are vital for providing immediate repair planning of the used security tools, elements, requirements, and software, as these are basic duties to cover in the ship security officer job.

This defined duty level includes but is not limited to, surveillance of cameras, alarms, control systems, security levels, and more.

Common Challenges in the Daily Life of the Ship Security Officer:

As with any other job in the maritime industry, the vessel security officer job also has its unique challenges that relate to the industry type and company culture.

However, with the accredited maritime training, practical experience, and approved knowledge the officers, or candidates to be, can implement the security plan with proficiency.

Maritime Regulation Compliance:

Security-wise, the ship security officer is the one responsible for following the international maritime security regulations and standards and updating the security measures to protect the company and its assets.

Cybersecurity Threats:

The advanced technologies in modern vessels made them vulnerable to cyber-attacks, including navigation, communication, and operational systems, thus, SSO follows maritime cybersecurity regulations accurately.

Environmental Damage to the Marine System:

Following approved security protocols and measures by the ship security officer is a must to avoid impacting the marine environment.

Vessel Trafficking:

The ship security officer's main duties are preventing unauthorised boarding and illegal cargo smuggling with strict observation and inspection to protect the company, vessel, and passengers.

To sum up,

The role of the ship security officer is vital to ensure the safety of all parties in the maritime company.

Thus, make sure to provide your officers with quality and advanced maritime security training to keep them up-to-date with all the measurements, rules, and regulations.