Marine Facility Operator FAQ’s

What is the IMO?

The International Maritime Organization IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and it’s the global standard-setting authority for the safety security and environmental performance of international shipping.

Is the International Ship & Port Facility Security Code applicable to me?

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code(ISPS), is an amendment to the Safety Of life At Sea (SOLAS) convention (1974 to 1988) on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports, and government agencies, so, yes as a Marine Facility Operator, it is applicable to you.

What does the Marine Transportation Security Act legislate?

Because Canada places great value on maritime security and has been working towards reducing the risk of criminal and terrorist activity on the vessels and ports for more than 15 years, the Marine Transportation Security Act gives the Minister of Transport the tools necessary to help ensure the security of Canada’s maritime transport industry.

What are the Marine Transportation Security Regulation’s?

The Marine Transportation Security Regulations(MTSR’s), came into force July 1, 2004 and they provide a framework to detect security threats and take measures to prevent security incidents that could affect marine vessels and their facilities.

Does my facility need to comply with Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations?

Yes, your facility does need to comply with Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations. The specifically relevant part of the of the MTSR for you is Part Three which covers Marine Facilities and Port Authorities

Do I need a Security Risk Assessment before I can complete my Marine Facility Security Plan?

A Security Risk Assessment (SRA) is a Transport Canada requirement and needs to be completed, prior to the development of your Marine Facility Security Plan. Furthermore, it needs to be revisited annually.

If my facility is ‘pre-build’ or ‘pre-construction’ can you still undertake a security risk assessment?

Yes, for pre-build or preconstruction we can still undertake a security risk assessment. This is done at the same time as the construction documents design phase, where Lions Gate provides a security overview. This is to inform the finalized technical design, engineering, structural engineering, civil works, landscaping design and detailing across all drawings to determine:

Whether there are any outstanding security vulnerabilities in the design that should be addressed.
To ensure that security guidance provided in earlier design phases, has made it to the plans as was intended to meet compliance and security standards.

How will I know if I have achieved the level of security required to secure Transport Canada approval for my Marine Facility Security Plan?

In the final analysis Transport Canada will provide you with approval, but there are precursor targets to be achieved to reach this approval level. This will include the Security Risk Assessment; the Marine Facility Security Plan and all the component parts.

What are the MARSEC levels?

The MARSEC, Marine Security Levels are: 1 minimum-security requirements level. 2 additional or enhanced security requirements and 3 highest level security requirements. Within each increased level, security is supplemented and is generally a combination of additional human resources, the closer monitoring of electronic security and the additional physical layers to deflect or deny unauthorized access.

Who are the key stakeholders we should engage to ensure our MFSP is effective?

Your stakeholders are essentially anyone or any group that can come into contact with your project in any capacity. That’s a fairly broad net cast so you should begin with key and core stakeholders competent to act or responsible for acting in support of your Marine Facility Security Plan.

Transport Canada – The Port Authority – Law Enforcement – Fire Department – Municipality – First Nations – Ship Owners and Operators, Company, Ship, Vessel Security Officers and Community Groups

Do we need to obtain Marine Transportation Security Clearances? And if so, who needs to be cleared?

Yes, you will need to obtain clearances. The list of personnel that will require a Marine Transportation Security Clearance(MTSC),is quite extensive. It begins with any personnel required to enter a Restricted 2 designated area, but then broadens. This fairly extensive list is covered off in MTSR 503.

Who can help steer us through the development of policies, procedures and protocols that will meet the requirements of the Marine Transportation Security Regulations and our Marine Facility Security Plan?

Lions Gate is a one stop shop for marine security services, and can support you through this process. This will include your Security Risk Assessment, your Marine Facility Security Plan development and all your marine security regulatory and compliance requirements. The security documentation library and supporting components really need to be developed during the SRA and MFSP development process to ensure proper integration and effectiveness.

Who looks after our Marine Facility Security and do they need training?

Your marine facility security will be looked after by your qualified and designated Marine Facility Security Officer(MFSO), or their deputy. To achieve the qualification, they undergo formal training. It’s not just the MFSOs that will require training, your staff will require training to meet the requirements of Transport Canada and the MTSRs, whether they have security responsibilities or not.