GHANA
MARITIME SECURITY ACT, 2004 (ACT
675)
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
PART I—PRELIMINARY
1. Scope of application.
PART II—PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE
GHANA MARITIME AUTHORITY AND
RECOGNISED SECURITY ORGANISATIONS
2. Ghana Maritime Authority
3. Functions of the Authority
4. Delegation of Functions of
Authority
5. Appointment by the Authority of
recognised security organisations
6. Duties of recognised security
organisations
PART III—GENERAL PROVISIONS
RELATING TO SECURITY
7. Security levels for ship and
port facilities
8. Provision of security level
information
9. Declaration of Security
10. Content of notice of
declaration of Security
11. Request for Declaration of
Security
12. Alternative security agreement
13. Equivalent security
arrangements
14. Testing of security plans
PART IV—SHIP SECURITY
Sub-Part 1—Ship security plan
15. Ship security plan
16. Non-disclosure of ship
security plan
17. Application for approval of
ship security plan
18. Content of ship security plan
19. Approval of ship security
plan
20. Appeals
21. Amendment to ship security
plan
22. Enforcement of ship security
plan
Sub-Part II—Ship Security Levels,
Assessment and Systems
23. Compliance with ship
security levels
24. Ship security assessment
25. Ship security systems
26. Notification of ship
security alert
Sub-Part III—International Ship
Security Certificate
27. International Ship Security
Certificate
28. Application for an
International Ship Security
Certificate
29. Verification of ship for
International Ship Security
Certificate
30. Issuance of International
Ship Security Certificate
31. Period of validity of
International Ship Security
Certificate
32. Validity of an International
Ship Security Certificate
33. Extension of validity of
International Ship Security
Certificate
34. Cancellation of an
International Ship Security
Certificate
35. Interim International Ship
Security Certificate
36. International Ship Security
Certificate to be kept on board
Sub-Part IV—Control and Regulation
of Ships in Ghanaian Ports
37. Information required of all
ships intending to enter Ghanaian
ports
38. Acceptance of Convention
documents
39. Control of ships in ports
40. Inspection of ship security
plans
41. Procedure to follow where
control measures are imposed.
42. Action to take where a ship
is not in compliance with the Act
Sub-Part V—Designation of Officers
and Responsibilities of Companies
and Ship Personnel
43. Company security officer
44. Ship security officer
45. Shipboard personnel
46. Master's responsibilities for
ship safety and security
47. Costs of detention
PART V—PORT SECURITY
48. Duties of port facility
operator
49. Port facility security
assessment
50. Report on port facility
security assessment
51. Content of port facility
security assessment
52. Port facility security plan
53. Content of port facility
security plan
54. Submission of port facility
security plan or amendment for
approval
55. Approval by Minister of port
facility security plan or
amendment
56. Review of decision not to
approve port facility security
plan
57. Port facility security officer
58. Designation of port security
zone
59. Matters to be considered in
establishing port security zone
60. Restrictions with respect to
port security zones
61. Taking weapons onto ships or
into port security zones
62. Screening and searching
powers
63. Power to seize and detain
items
64. Cost of seizures
65. Person who refuses screening
or searching
66. Search of persons who refuse
to be searched
67. Right of access to port
security zones and ships
68. Authority may declare
exclusion zones for ships
69. Entering or leaving exclusion
zones without authorisation
PART VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
70. Ministerial responsibility and
directives
71. Maritime security officers
72. Regulations
73. Consequential amendment
74. Interpretation
SCHEDULES
Schedule I
Schedule II
Schedule III
Schedule IV
Schedule V
Schedule VI
Schedule VII
Schedule VIII
THE SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH
ACT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF GHANA
ENTITLED
GHANA MARITIME SECURITY ACT, 2004
AN ACT to give effect to Chapter
XI-2 of the International
Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) as amended;
to enhance maritime safety and
security; to create a legal
framework for the effect
compliance with the International
Ship and Port Facility Code (ISPS)
in this country; and to provide
for related matters.
DATE OF ASSENT: 1st November, 2004
BE IT ENACTED by Parliament as
follows:
WHEREAS a Conference of
Contracting Governments to the
International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea 1974 known
as the Diplomatic Conference on
Maritime Security in December 2002
adopted new provisions in the
International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and
the International Ship and Port
Facility Code;
WHEREAS the adoption of the new
provisions in the International
Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea, 1974 and the International
Ship and Port Facility Code is
intended to provide the
international framework through
which ship and port facilities can
co-operate to detect and deter
acts which threaten security in
maritime transport;
AND WHEREAS it is necessary for
Ghana to comply fully with Chapter
X1-2 of the Convention and the
ISPS Code; to enable the Ghana
Maritime Authority ensure the
safety and security of Ghanaian
ships and ports, and to provide
for and enforce sanctions to deter
security threats to the maritime
industry in Ghana:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by
Parliament as follows:
PART I—PRELIMINARY
Section 1—Scope of Application
(1) This Act applies to
(a) the following types of ships
on international voyages
(i)
passenger ships, including high
speed craft; and
(ii) cargo ships, including high
speed craft of 500 gross tonnage
or more;
(b) mobile offshore drilling units
that are not located within
Ghanaian waters;
(c) pleasure craft; and
(d) port facilities within the
country that serve a ship or a
mobile offshore drilling unit
specified under paragraph (a),
subject to sub-section (2).
(2) The Minister may
(a) after due consideration of a
port facility security assessment,
conducted in accordance with this
Act; and
(b) having regard to the level of
security required to be achieved
under this Act;
extend by notice published in the
Gazette the application of this
Act to specified port facilities
within the country which although
used primarily by ships not
engaged on international voyages,
are required occasionally, to
serve ships that arrive from or
depart on an international voyage.
(3) This Act shall not apply to
(a) the following ships owned or
operated by the Republic and used
only for non-commercial
activities,
(i)
a warship, or
(ii) a ship designated for naval,
military, customs or law
enforcement purposes; or
(b) part of or the whole of a port
that is
(i)
protected with security, and
(ii) under the exclusive control
of the Ghana Armed Forces.
(4) The provisions of Part B of
the Code shall be read as one with
this Act, and shall apply subject
to such modification as may be
necessary to give effect to this
Act.
PART II—PROVISIONS RELATING TO
GHANA MARITIME AUTHORITY AND
RECOGNISED SECURITY ORGANISATIONS
Section 2—Ghana Maritime Authority
For purposes of this Act, the
Ghana Maritime Authority
established under section 1 of the
Ghana Maritime Authority Act, 2002
(Act 630), shall perform the
additional functions specified
under this Part.
Section 3—Functions of the
Authority
(1) The Authority shall for the
purposes of this Act give effect
to Chapter XI-2 of the Convention
and ensure the effective
implementation of the provisions
of the Code to enhance maritime
security.
(2) For the purposes of
subsection (1), the Authority
shall
(a) ensure that with respect to
each port facility within Ghana,
(i)
each port facility security
assessment is conducted, approved
and reviewed in accordance with
subsection (5) of section 49;
(ii) each port facility security
plan is developed, implemented and
maintained in accordance with
section 52;
(ii) each port facility security
plan is approved in accordance
with section 55;
(b) ensure that with respect to
Ghanaian ships
(i)
each ship security assessment is
conducted, reviewed and approved
in accordance with sections 24 and
25;
(ii) each ship security plan is
developed, implemented and
maintained in accordance with
sections 15 (1) and 18;
(iii) each ship security plan is
approved in accordance with
section 19;
(c) ensure that the appropriate
security levels for
(i)
port facilities within Ghana;
(ii) a Ghanaian ship or any other
ship that uses port facilities
within Ghana; and
(iii) ships that conduct
ship-to-ship activities in
Ghanaian waters, are applied;
(d) specify and communicate the
measures that must be addressed
for each security level in a port
facility security plan or a ship
security plan;
(e) determine a Declaration of
Security under subsection (2) of
section 9 and the requirements for
it
(f) conduct the necessary
verification process for the
issuance of certificates under
Sub-Part III of Part IV,
(g) issue continuous synopsis
records; and
(h) provide and approve training
courses, for purposes of
implementation of the Convention
or the Code.
Section 4—Delegation of functions
of Authority
(1) The Authority may, after
consultation with the appropriate
Ministry, Government department or
agency and with the approval of
the Minister, delegate any of its
security related functions under
this Act by directives in writing
to a recognised security
organisation with the exception of
the following functions:
(a) the setting of applicable
security levels;
(b) ensuring the conduct and
approval of a port facility
security assessment and subsequent
amendments to an approved
assessment subject to paragraph
(c) of section 6;
(c) determining which port
facilities within the country
shall be required to
(i)
designate a port facility security
officer, and
(ii) prepare a port facility
security plan;
(d) ensuring the approval of a
port facility security plan or any
subsequent amendments to an
approved plan;
(e) exercising control and
compliance measures; and
(f) establishing the requirements
for a Declaration of Security.
(2) A delegation under subsection
(1), shall
(a) be in writing,
(b) indicate the specified period
for the delegation of the
functions, and
(c) require the prior written
consent of the Minister.
(3) Where the Authority delegates
its security related function
under subsection (1),
(a) the delegation shall not
affect or prevent the exercise of
the function by the Authority;
(b) the Authority may after
written notice to the recognised
security Organisation withdraw the
delegation;
(c) the Authority shall not be
relieved from ultimate
responsibility, for the discharge
of the delegated function; and
(d) the delegation subject to
paragraph (a), is to be exercised
only by the recognised security
Organisation responsible for that
delegated function.
Section 5—Appointment of
recognised security organisations
(1) The Authority may for
purposes of this Act, appoint
recognised security organisations.
(2) Where the Authority appoints a
recognised security organisation
under subsection (1), it shall
publish the appointment of the
Organisation by notice in the
Gazette.
(3) Where a recognised security
organisation ceases to operate as
such, the Authority may by notice
published in the Gazette amend the
respective previous publication
accordingly.
(4) The Authority shall in
appointing a recognised security
organisation under subsection (1),
consider the recognised security
organsation's
(a) expertise of relevant aspects
of security;
(b) required knowledge in respect
of ship and port operations, and
ship design and construction where
applicable;
(c) capability to assess the
likely security risks that could
occur during ship and port
facility operations or ship-port
interface and how to minimize such
risks;
(d) ability to maintain and
improve the expertise of their
personnel;
(e) ability to monitor the
loyalty of its personnel;
(f) ability to maintain
appropriate measures to avoid
unauthorised disclosure of, or
access to, security material;
(g) knowledge of the requirements
of Chapter XI-2 of the Convention,
Part A of the Code, and Ghana's
legislation in respect of maritime
security;
(h) knowledge of current security
threats and patterns;
(i)
knowledge in respect of the
identification and detection of
weapons; dangerous substances and
devices;
(j) knowledge of behavioural
patterns of persons likely to
threaten security;
(k) knowledge of techniques used
to circumvent security measures;
and
(l) knowledge of security and
surveillance equipment systems and
their operational limits.
Section 6—Duties of recognised
security organisations
The duties of a recognised
security Organisation include
(a) the approval on behalf of the
Authority of a ship security plan
or amendment to it;
(b) the verification and
certification on behalf of the
Authority of compliance of ships
with the requirements of Chapter
X1-2 of the Convention and Part A
of the Code; and
(c) conducting a port facility
security assessment as required by
the Authority.
PART III—GENERAL PROVISIONS
RELATING TO SECURITY
Section 7—Security levels for ship
and port facilities
(1) The Authority shall in
accordance with Part B of the Code
set three separate ascendant
levels of security namely,
security levels 1, 2 and 3 for
every Ghanaian ship and every port
or port facility within the
country.
(2) Where it is necessary to
reduce the risk of a security
incident, the Authority may vary
the levels of security set under
subsection (1).
(3) The Authority shall
periodically review and update
when necessary any security level
it may determine.
(4) The Authority shall, in
setting the appropriate security
levels, take into account the
following factors:
(a) the degree at which threat
information should be taken as
credible;
(b) the degree at which threat
information requires to be
corroborated;
(c) the degree at which threat
information should be taken as
specific or imminent; and
(d) the potential consequences of
such a security incident.
Section 8—Provision of security
level information
(1) Where the Authority sets any
of the security levels, it shall
duly provide information related
to the set security level to
(a) every Ghanaian ship;
(b) every port facility within the
country; and
(c) any other ship or port
facility that may be affected by
the setting of the security level.
(2) Where the Authority updates
information related to a set
security level under section 7, it
shall relay any security related
information to the ships and port
facilities specified under
paragraphs (a) to (c) of
subsection (1).
(3) Where the Authority sets
security level 3, it shall issue
appropriate instructions to the
ships and port facilities
specified under paragraphs (a) to
(c) of subsection (1).
Section 9—Declaration of security
(1) The Minister may, after
assessing the risk of ship-port
interface and ship-to-ship
activity, determine when a
Declaration of Security is
required.
(2) The Minister shall publish in
the Gazette a notice of
Declaration of Security in respect
of a specified port or place.
(3) A port to which a Declaration
of Security under subsection (2)
applies, shall be a security
regulated port.
(4) Despite subsection (3), any
area that is under the exclusive
control of the Ghana Armed Forces
shall not be considered as part of
a security regulated port.
Section 10—Content of notice of
Declaration of Security
The Gazette notice of a
Declaration of Security under
subsection (2) of section 9 shall,
(a) contain a map of the port
that indicates the boundaries of
the security regulated port;
(b) specify the security
requirements to be shared between
(i)
a port facility and a ship; or
(ii) ships;
and indicate the respective
responsibilities; and
(c) specify the minimum period
for which the Declaration of
Security is to be kept in force by
(i)
a port facility, and
(ii) a Ghanaian ship.
Section 11—Request for Declaration
of Security
(1) A request for the completion
or modification of a Declaration
of Security may be lodged in
writing by
(a) the master of a ship,
(b) the ship security officer
designated under section 44;
(c) the port facility security
officer designated under section
57; or
(d) any other person the Minister
determines
with the master or ship security
officer of any other ship as the
case may be.
(2) A request for the completion
or modification of a Declaration
of Security, shall be acknowledged
in writing by the respective port
facility or master of the ship.
(3) A request for the completion
of a Declaration of Security under
subsection (1) may be made where
(a) the ship is operating at a
higher security level than the
port facility or any other ship it
is interfacing with;
(b) there is an agreement on a
Declaration of Security between
the Republic and a flag state
covering certain international
voyages or specific ships on those
voyages;
(c) there has been a security
threat or a security incident
involving the port facility;
(d) the ship is at a port which is
not required to have and implement
an approved port facility security
plan; or
(e) the ship is conducting
ship-to-ship activities with any
other ship not required to have
and implement an approved ship
security plan.
(4) A port facility security
officer may in circumstances
specified under paragraph (a) of
subsection (3) request in the form
specified in Schedule I, for a
Declaration of Security and lodge
that request with the master of a
ship or the ship security officer
for the completion or modification
of a Declaration of Security.
(5) The master of a ship or a ship
security officer may in
circumstances specified under
paragraphs (d) and (e) of
subsection (3), lodge a written
request in the form specified in
Schedule I with the master, for
the completion or modification of
a Declaration of Security.
Section 12—Alternative security
agreement
(1) Where Ghana enters into an
alternative security agreement
with a flag state in accordance
with the Convention, the
Director-General of the Authority
shall supervise security
arrangements for the respective
ship or port facility covered by
that agreement.
(2) The master of a ship covered
by an alternative security
agreement may not conduct any
ship-to-ship activity with a ship
that is not covered by the same
agreement unless the ship-to-ship
activity is part of a search and
rescue operation.
(3) The Director-General shall
review each alternative security
agreement
(a) periodically
(i)
at an interval specified in
writing by the Authority; or
(ii) at an interval specified by
the alternative security
agreement, under review, in the
absence of a specified interval
under paragraph (i); or
(b) every 5 years.
(4) The Director-General shall in
reviewing an alternative agreement
under subsection (3) consider the
following:
(a) any experiences arising out
of the agreement;
(b) any change in the particular
circumstances of a ship, port
facility or route covered by the
agreement; and
(c) any change in the assessed
threats to the security of a ship,
port facility, or route covered by
the agreement.
Section 13—Equivalent security
arrangements
(1) The Minister may authorise a
Ghanaian ship or a group of
Ghanaian ships to implement other
security measures equivalent to
security measures prescribed under
(a) Chapter XI-2 of the Annex to
the Convention; or
(b) Part A of the Code,
provided that the security
measures under paragraphs (a) and
(b) are as effective as security
measures required for a ship under
this Act.
(2) Subject to subsection (4), the
Minister may authorise the port
facility security officer of a
port facility or group of port
facilities within the territorial
limits of Ghana to implement other
security measures equivalent to
security measures prescribed under
(a) Chapter XI-2 of the Annex to
the Convention; or
(b) Part A of the Code,
provided that the security
measures specified under
paragraphs (a) and (b) are as
effective as security measures
required for a port facility under
this Act.
(3) Where the Minister authorises
equivalent security arrangements
under subsections (1) and (2), the
Director-General shall as soon as
practicable report details of
those arrangements to the
International Maritime
Organisation.
(4) Subsection (2) does not apply
to a port facility covered by an
alternative agreement under this
Act.
Section 14—Testing of security
plans
(1) The Director-General shall in
accordance with standards that the
Authority considers appropriate,
test the efficacy of
(a) each approved port facility
security plan for a Ghanaian port
facility or any subsequent
amendments to the plan; and
(b) each approved ship security
plan for a Ghanaian ship and any
subsequent amendments to the plan.
(2) Where the Director-General has
tested the plans specified under
paragraphs (a) and (b) of
subsection (1), and the
Director-General is of the opinion
that a plan or an amendment to it,
is not in accordance with the
standards set by the Authority,
the Director-General may require
that an amendment be made to the
respective plan and submitted to
(a) the Director-General for
consideration and approval in the
case of a ship security plan; or
(b) the Minister for
consideration and approval in the
case of a port facility security
plan.
(3) The Director-General shall
report in writing to the Minister
the out-come of the
Director-General's consideration
and approval of any amendment made
to a port facility security plan
or ship security plan.
PART IV—SHIP SECURITY
Sub-Part I-Ship Security Plan
Section 15—Ship Security Plan
(1) The company of a Ghanaian ship
shall
(a) based on the ship security
assessment of that ship, develop,
implement and maintain a ship
security plan for the ship; and
(b) update a ship security plan,
as required by a review of that
plan.
(2) An approved recognised
security Organisation may prepare
a ship security plan for a
Ghanaian ship.
(3) Where a recognised security
Organisation has not been involved
in the preparation of
(a) a ship's security assessment
(b) a ship's security plan or
(c) amendments to a ship's
security plan,
the Authority may engage that
recognised security organisation
to review and approve a ship
security plan.
Section 16—Non-disclosure of ship
security plan
(1) The master and company of a
Ghanaian ship shall ensure that a
written approval of a ship
security plan is kept on board the
ship and protected from
unauthorised access or disclosure.
(2) Where the plan is kept in an
electronic format it shall be
protected in such a manner as to
prevent its unauthorised deletion,
destruction or amendment.
(3) Any person who without
authorisation discloses a ship
security plan or gives access to a
ship security plan contrary to
subsection (1) or (2) commits an
offence and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine of not less
than 500 penalty units and not
exceeding 5,000 penalty units or
to a term of imprisonment not
exceeding 5 years or to both.
Section 17—Application for
approval of a ship security plan
(1) An application for the
approval of
(a) a ship security plan; or
(b) an amended ship security plan
shall be made in writing to the
Director-General in such form as
may be determined by the
Authority.
(2) An application under
subsection (1), shall be
accompanied with,
(a) such fee as the Authority
shall determine; and
(b) a security assessment for the
respective ship, on the basis of
which the plan or amendments have
been formulated.
Section 18—Content of a ship
security plan
(1) A ship security plan shall
provide for
(a) the three security levels
required under this Act including
details of measures to be
undertaken or implemented in
connection with the security
levels; and
(b) the application of a
Declaration of Security.
(2) A ship security plan shall
include the following details
(a) the measures designed to
prevent weapons, dangerous
substances and devices intended
for use against persons, ships, or
ports and the carriage of which is
not authorised from being taken on
board the ship;
(b) identification of the
restricted areas and measures for
the prevention of unauthorised
access to the ship;
(c) the measures for the
prevention of unauthorised access
to the ship;
(d) the procedures for responding
to security threats or breaches of
security, including provisions for
maintaining critical operations
for the ship-to-ship or ship-port
interface;
(e) the procedures for responding
to any security directives issued
by the Director-General in respect
of security level 3;
(f) the procedures for evacuation
in case of security threats or
breaches of security;
(g) the duties of shipboard
personnel assigned security
responsibilities and of other
shipboard personnel on security
aspects;
(h) the procedures for auditing
the security activities;
(i)
the procedures for training,
drills and exercises associated
with the plan;
(j) the procedures for
interfacing with port facility
security activities;
(k) the procedures for the
periodic review and updating of
the plan;
(l) the procedures for reporting
security incidents;
(m) identification of the company
security officer designated under
section 43 including 24 hour
contact details;
(n) identification of the ship
security officer designated under
section 44;
(o) the procedures to ensure the
inspection, testing, calibration
and, maintenance of any security
equipment provided on board;
(p) the frequency for testing or
calibration of any security
equipment provided on board;
(q) identification of the
locations where the ship security
alert system activation points are
provided; and
(r) the procedures, instructions
and guidance on the use of the
ship security alert system,
including the testing, activation,
deactivation and resetting to
limit false alerts.
(3) For purposes of ensuring
confidentiality of the ship
security plan,
(a) the Authority may give its
approval for information under
paragraphs (l), (q) and (r) of
subsection (2) to be kept in a
document on board the ship; and
(b) knowledge of the location of
the information specified under
paragraph (a), shall be limited to
the master, ship security officer
and any other senior shipboard
personnel determined by the
company of the ship.
Section 19—Approval of ship
security plan
(1) A ship security plan shall not
be put into effect without the
requisite written approval of the
Director-General.
(2) The Director-General shall
give the company of a ship,
written notice of approval if the
Director-General is satisfied that
a ship security plan addresses the
relevant requirements under
section 18.
(3) Where the Director-General is
not satisfied that the plan
addresses the relevant
requirements under section 18, the
Director-General may
(a) refuse to approve the plan;
and
(b) give the company of a ship,
written notice of the refusal with
reasons for the refusal.
(4) The Director-General shall
consider the existing
circumstances that relate to ship
and port security in determining
whether the plan adequately
addresses the relevant
requirements under this Act.
Section 20—Appeals
(1) Where the Director-General
does not approve a ship security
plan within 90 days from the date
of receipt of an application,
under section 17, a person who is
aggrieved by the
Director-General's decision may
appeal in writing against it in
the first instance to the
Minister.
(2) The Minister shall determine
the matter within 30 days of the
receipt of the appeal, and make a
decision.
(3) Where the grievance is not
determined within the 30 day
period by the Minister, or if the
person is dissatisfied with the
decision of the Minister, he or
she may appeal to the High Court.
Section 21—Amendment to ship
security plan
(1) An amendment to a ship
security plan that has been
approved of under subsection (2)
of section 19, shall
(a) be as effective as the
measures prescribed under Chapter
XI-2 of the Annex to the
Convention and Part A of the Code;
and
(b) not be implemented without
the written approval of the
Director-General.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the
master or company of a Ghanaian
ship, shall ensure that written
approval of an amended ship
security plan is
(a) documented in a manner that
indicates the approval;
(b) is kept on board the ship; and
(c) protected from unauthorised
disclosure.
(3) Where written approval is
given for
(a) a temporary amendment to an
approved ship security plan; or
(b) a temporary change to any
security equipment specified in an
approved plan,
retention on board of the written
approval for the temporary
amendment or temporary change is
not required if the originally
approved measures or equipment are
effectively implemented.
(4) Any person who without
authorisation discloses an amended
ship security plan or gives access
to the amended plan, contrary to
paragraph (c) of subsection (2),
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction to a fine of
not less than 500 penalty units
and not exceeding 5,000 penalty
units or to a term of imprisonment
not exceeding 5 years or to both.
Section 22—Enforcement of ship
security plan
(1) The master of a Ghanaian ship
shall not put out the ship for an
international voyage unless
(a) there is a ship security plan
in force for the ship; and
(b) the ship is operated in
accordance with the ship security
plan in force for the ship.
(2) The company of a Ghanaian ship
which falls to comply with
subsection (1), commits an offence
and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding
5,000 penalty units and the ship
shall be detained until the fine
is paid.
(3) The master of a Ghanaian ship
who fails to comply with
subsection (1) commits an offence
and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding
2,500 penalty units or to a term
of imprisonment not exceeding 2
years or to both.
Sub-Part II—Ship Security Levels,
Assessment and Systems
Section 23—Compliance with ship
security levels
(1) The company and master of a
Ghanaian ship shall comply with
the security levels set by this
Act for the ship
(a) prior to the ship's entry to
a port facility within the
country; and
(b) during any period the ship is
within a port facility in the
country.
(2) At security level 1, the
master of a Ghanaian ship and a
company of that ship, shall carry
out the following activities in
order to identify and take
preventive measures against
security incidents
(a) ensuring the performance of
all security duties;
(b) controlling access to the
ship;
(c) controlling the embarkation
of persons and their effects;
(d) monitoring restricted areas
to ensure that only authorised
persons have access;
(e) monitoring of dock areas and
areas surrounding the ship;
(f) supervising the handling of
cargo and ship's stores; and
(g) ensuring that security
communication is readily
available.
(3) At security level 2, the
company and the master of a
Ghanaian ship shall ensure that,
additional protective measures
specified in the ship security
plan are implemented for each
activity specified in sub-section
(2).
(4) At security level 3, the
company and the master of a
Ghanaian ship she ensure that
further specific protective
measures, specified in the ship
security plan are implemented for
each activity specified in
sub-section (2).
(5) Where the Authority sets
security levels 2 and 3, the
master of a Ghanaian ship shall
acknowledge receipt of all
instructions on the change of the
security level for that ship.
(6) Prior to entry of a port or
whilst within a port facility
within the territory of another
Contracting Government that has
set
(a) security level 2, the master
of a Ghanaian ship shall
acknowledge receipt of the
instructions and communicate to
the port facility security officer
the initiation of the
implementation of the appropriate
measures and procedures as
detailed in the ship security
plan; or
(b) security level 3, the master
of a Ghanaian ship, shall in
addition to the requirement under
subsection (1), carry out
instructions issued by that
Contracting Government which has
set security level 3.
(7) Where there are difficulties
in the implementation of the
appropriate measures and
procedures
(a) contained in the ship
security plan; or
(b) issued by the Contracting
Government under subsection (6),
the master of the ship shall
report to the competent authority
of the Contracting Government of
the difficulties, and the port
facility security Officer and the
ship security officer shall liaise
and co-ordinate the appropriate
actions.
(8) Where the master of a Ghanaian
ship
(a) is required by the Authority
to operate at a higher security
level; or
(b) is already operating at a
higher security level
than that set for the port it
intends to enter or in which it is
already located, the master of the
ship shall without undue delay,
inform the competent authority of
the Contracting Government within
whose territory the port facility
is located of the appropriate
action to be taken.
(9) Where a report is made under
subsection (7), the ship security
officer shall liaise with the port
facility security officer
designated under section 57, and
may if necessary, co-ordinate
appropriate actions.
(10) Where the Authority has set
security levels,
(a) the Authority shall ensure the
provision of information to the
masters of ships that operate in
or intend to enter Ghanaian waters
in respect of
(i)
applicable security levels; and
(ii) applicable security measures
that need to be taken by the ship;
and
(b) the master of a ship that
intends to enter Ghanaian waters
shall maintain vigilance and
report to the Authority
immediately, of any information
likely to affect maritime security
in the respective area.
Section 24—Ship security
assessment
(1) For purposes of evaluating the
security of a Ghanaian ship, a
company of that ship shall ensure
that a security assessment of the
ship is carried out by a person
with appropriate skills.
(2) The company of a Ghanaian ship
may engage a recognised security
Organisation to carry out the
security assessment of that
Ghanaian ship.
(3) A ship security assessment
shall conform to any requirements
prescribed by this Act and shall
contain an on-scene security
survey that includes the following
details:
(a) identification of existing
security measures, procedures, and
operations
(b) identification and evaluation
of key shipboard operations that
are important to protect;
(c) identification of possible
threats to the key shipboard
operations and the likelihood of
their occurrence; and
(d) identification of weaknesses
including human factors in the
infrastructure policies and
procedures.
(4) The company shall ensure that
each ship security assessment is
(a) reviewed and updated as soon
as practicable in the event of
major changes to the ship;
(b) periodically reviewed and
updated, taking into account minor
changes to the ship;
(c) retained by the company; and
(d) approved of in writing by the
Director-General.
Section 25—Ship security systems
(1) A Ghanaian ship shall have in
place and in conformity with
standards set by the
Director-General,
(a) a ship security alert system;
(b) an automatic identification
system;
(c) a continuous synopsis record
and
(d) a permanently and
conspicuously marked ship
identification number.
(2) The company or master of a
Ghanaian ship shall prior to the
master taking responsibility of
that ship, ensure that the ship
has the required security alert
system.
(3) Where a ship is being used for
an international voyage or is
operated without the necessary
requirements specified under
subsection (1),
(a) the company of that ship
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction to a fine
not exceeding 5,000 penalty units,
(b) the master of that ship
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction to a fine
not exceeding 2,500 penalty units,
and the ship shall be detained
until the fine is paid.
Section 26—Notification of ship
security alert
(1) Where the Director-General
receives notification of a ship
security alert, the
Director-General shall immediately
notify the States in the vicinity
of which the ship is operating.
(2) Where the Director-General
receives notification of a ship
security alert from a ship that is
not a Ghanaian ship, the
Director-General shall immediately
notify,
(a) the ship's administration;
and
(b) if necessary the States in
the vicinity where the ship is
operating.
Sub-Part III—International Ship
Security Certificate
Section 27— International Ship
Security Certificate
(1) The company of a Ghanaian ship
shall prior to the use or
operation of that ship for any
international voyage, ensure that
there is a valid International
Ship Security Certificate for that
ship.
(2) A company which contravenes or
permits a person under that
company's control to contravene
subsection (1), commits an offence
and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine of not less
2,500 penalty units and not
exceeding 7,500 penalty units.
Section 28—Application for an
International Ship Security
Certificate
An application for an
International Ship Security
Certificate for a ship may be made
in writing by the company to the
Director-General in such form as
the Authority shall determine.
Section 29—Verification of ship
for International Ship Security
Certificate
(1) A Ghanaian ship to which the
provisions of this Part apply
shall
(a) prior to the ship being put in
service, or the issuance of an
International Ship Security
Certificate in respect of that
ship, be subject to an initial
verification which shall include;
(i)
a complete verification of the
ship's security system and any
associated security equipment, and
(ii) verification of the approved
ship security plan in compliance
with the applicable requirements
for the service for which the ship
is intended;
(b) be subject to a renewal
verification at intervals to be
determined by the Director-General
but not exceeding 5 years;
(c) be subject to at least one
intermediate verification; and
(d) any additional verification as
may be determined by the
Authority.
(2) A verification under
subsection (1) shall include
inspection of the security system
and any associated security
equipment of the ship, to ensure
compliance with the applicable
requirements of chapter X1-2 of
the Convention, Part A of the Code
and the approved ship security
plan.
(3) A verification under this
section shall be carried out by an
authorised person
(a) in accordance with directives
writing by the Director-General;
and
(b) before the due expiry date
for inspection of the ship.
(4) After any verification under
subsection (2) has been completed,
and endorsed in the forms
specified in Schedules II, III and
IV, a person shall not make any
change to
(a) the security system,
(b) any associated security
equipment, or
(c) the approved ship security
plan
without authorisation of the
Authority.
(5) A person who contravenes the
provisions of subsection (4),
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction to a fine
not exceeding 2,500 penalty units
or to a term of imprisonment not
exceeding 2 years or to both.
Section 30—Issuance of
International Ship Security
Certificate
(1) The Director-General may
issue an International Ship
Security Certificate for a period
not exceeding 5 years where
(a) a substantive application for
an International Ship Security
Certificate for a Ghanaian ship
has been made under section 28,
(b) a ship security plan for the
ship is in force, and
(c) the initial or renewal
verification in respect of the
ship has been completed in
accordance with sub-section (1) of
section 29.
(2) The endorsement of the
verification for the Certificate
shall be as in the form specified
in Schedule V.
Section 31—Period of validity of
International Ship Security
Certificate
Where the Director-General issues
an International Ship Security
Certificate to the company of a
Ghanaian ship, the International
Ship Security Certificate comes
into force from the date of
issuance of that certificate until
(a) the Director-General cancels
the certificate; or
(b) the expiration of 5 years
from the date of issuance.
Section 32—Validity of an
International Ship Security
Certificate
(1) An International Ship Security
Certificate issued under
subsection (2) of section 30,
shall cease to be valid where
(a) after inspection of the
respective ship, the authorised
person responsible for the
inspection finds that within a
period prescribed the ship does
not yet meet the required
standards;
(b) the certificate endorsed is
not in compliance with subsection
(2) of section 29;
(c) the company which assumes
responsibility for the operation
of the ship was not previously
operated by that company; and
(d) the ship is transferred to
any other flag State.
(2) Where a renewal verification
is completed
(a) within three months before the
expiry date of the existing
certificate; or
(b) after the expiry date of the
existing certificate,
the new certificate shall be valid
from the date of completion of the
renewal verification to a date not
exceeding five years from the date
of expiry of the existing
certificate.
(3) Where a renewal verification
is completed more than three
months before the expiry date of
the existing certificate, the new
certificate shall be valid from
the date of completion of the
renewal verification to a date not
exceeding five years from the date
of completion of the renewal
verification.
Section 33—Extension of validity
of International Ship Security
Certificate
(1) Subject to where an
International Ship Security
Certificate is issued for a period
of less than 5 years, the
Authority may after compliance
with the applicable provisions of
section 29, extend the validity of
the certificate beyond the expiry
date to the maximum period
specified under subsection (1) of
section 30.
(2) Where a renewal verification
has been completed and a new
certificate cannot be issued or
placed on board the ship before
the expiry date of the existing
certificate, the Authority or a
recognised security Organisation
may endorse the existing
certificate as valid only for a
further period not exceeding 5
months from the expiry date.
(3) Where a certificate expires at
a time when the respective ship is
not in the port in which it is to
be verified, the authority may
only extend the validity of the
certificate
(a) for the purpose of allowing
the ship to complete its voyage to
the port in which it is to be
verified;
(b) when the exigency of the
circumstances require the
extension; or
(c) for a period not exceeding 3
months.
(4) The ship to which an extension
under subsection (3) applies,
shall not on arrival at the port
in which it is to be verified,
leave that port without the new
certificate in respect of the
extended validity.
(5) The new certificate in respect
of an extended validity under
subsection (3) shall be valid for
a period not exceeding 5 years
from the expiry date of the
existing certificate before the
grant of the extension.
(6) Where a certificate issued to
a ship engaged on a short voyage
has not been extended under
subsections (1) to (3), the
Authority may extend the validity
of that certificate,
(a) for a period of up to one
month; and
(b) to run for a period not
exceeding 5 years from the date of
expiry of the existing certificate
before the granted extension.
(7) Where an intermediate
verification is completed before
the expiration period of 5 years
specified under subsection (1) of
section 30, the expiry date
(a) on the certificate shall be
amended by endorsement to a date
that is not more than 3 years
later than the date on which the
intermediate verification was
completed; or
(b) may remain unchanged provided
any additional verification is
carried out and the duration
between verifications does not
exceed 5 years.
(8) An endorsement for the
extension of the validity of an
International Ship Security
Certificate shall be as specified
in the forms in Schedule VI.
Section 34—Cancellation of an
International Ship Security
Certificate
The Director-General shall in
writing notify the company of a
Ghanaian ship of the cancellation
of its International Ship Security
Certificate for its ship in the
following circumstances:
(a) where there is no longer a
ship security plan in force for
the ship; or
(b) the ship is no longer
subjected to the required
verification for issuance of an
International Ship Security
Certificate.
Section 35—Interim International
Ship Security Certificate
(1) Subject to subsections (2)
and (3), if after the 1st of July,
2004 an International Ship
Security Certificate has not been
issued by the Director-General or
endorsed for a ship as required
under section 30, the
Director-General may issue an
Interim International Ship
Security Certificate,
(a) for a period not exceeding
six months; or
(b) until the Certificate
required is issued.
(2) A Certificate issued under
subsection (1) shall be endorsed
as in the form specified in
Schedule VII.
(3) The Director-General may only
issue an Interim International
Ship Security Certificate to a
Ghanaian company where
(a) the company of the Ghanaian
ship has applied for the
certificate,
(b) there is a ship security plan
in force, provided on board the
ship for purposes of
implementation,
(c) the ship has not yet been
duly verified in accordance with
section 29,
(d) the ship security assessment
required by Part A of the Code has
been completed,
(e) the ship is provided with
the requisite security alert
system,
(f) the security officer of the
company designated under section
43 (1) has made the necessary
arrangements for drills, exercises
and internal audits,
(g) the ship security officer and
other ship's personnel meet the
requirements of Part A of the
Code; and
(h) the Authority reasonably
believes that the ship is likely
to qualify for a certificate when
it is subjected to inspection for
purposes of the required
verification under section 29.
(4) The Director-General shall not
issue an Interim International
Ship Security Certificate where he
or she reasonably believes that
the company of the ship intends to
avoid full compliance with this
Act beyond the six month period
specified under subsection (1)
(a).
(5) Where a company assumes
responsibility for the operation
of a ship that the company did not
previously operate, the
Director-General may issue that
company with an Interim
International Ship Security
Certificate for that ship.
Section 36—International Ship
Security Certificate to be kept on
board
(1) The master and company of a
ship shall ensure that the
International Ship Security
Certificate for that ship is kept
on board the ship.
(2) Where a ship is in a port
within the country, the
Director-General may verify
whether the certificate is on
board that ship.
(3) The master of a ship in a port
within the country, shall
(a) at the request of the
Authority, produce its
certificate, and
(b) co-operate with the
Authority.
(4) Where the provisions of
subsection (1) are contravened,
(a) the master of the ship commits
an offence and is liable on
summary conviction to a fine not
exceeding 2,500 penalty units or
to a term of imprisonment not
exceeding 2 years or to both;
(b) the company of the ship
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction to a fine of
not less than 5,000 penalty units
and not exceeding 7,500 penalty
units and the ship shall be
detained until the fine is paid.
Sub Part IV—Control and regulation
of ships in Ghanaian ports
Section 37—Information required of
all ships intending to enter
Ghanaian Ports
(1) The master of a ship that
intends to enter a port within the
country shall prior to entry into
that port, provide the
Director-General with the
following details:
(a) evidence that the ship
possesses an International Ship
Security Certificate;
(b) evidence of the security
level at which the ship is
operating;
(c) evidence of the security level
at which the ship operated during
the period of its last 10 calls at
port where it conducted a
ship-port interface;
(d) evidence of any special
additional security measures that
were taken by the ship during the
period of its last 10 ports of
call where it conducted a
ship-port interface;
(e) evidence that the appropriate
ship security procedures were
maintained during any ship-to-ship
activity during the period of its
last 10 ports of call; and
(f) any other practical
security-related details excluding
details of the ship security plan,
but including
(i)
any information contained in the
continuous synopsis record;
(ii) the location of the ship at
the time the report is made;
(iii) the expected time of arrival
of the ship in port;
(iv) the crew list;
(v) a general description of
cargo aboard the ship;
(vi) the passenger list; and
(vii) information required under
regulation X1-2/5 of the
Convention.
(2) The master shall keep a record
of the information specified in
sub-section (1) for the last 10
calls at port facilities.
(3) Where a master declines to
provide the information or
confirmation specified in
subsection (1), or fails to comply
with sub-section (2), the
Director-General may deny the ship
entry to port.
Section 38—Acceptance of
Convention documents
(1) The Director-General shall
accept the validity of any
maritime Security document related
to a ship or the company of a ship
issued in pursuance of this Act.
(2) Despite subsection (1), where
the Director-General has reason to
believe that
(a) the relevant ship or company
(i)
is not in compliance with the
content of the maritime security
document;
(ii) is no longer in compliance
with the provisions of any
requirements leading to the
issuance of the maritime security
document, or imposed by the
maritime security document;
(b) the relevant ship has been
materially altered without the
approval of the flag State that
issued or approved the maritime
security document; or
(c) the maritime security document
has been fraudulently obtained or
the holder of the maritime
security document is not the
person to whom the maritime
security document was originally
issued,
the Director-General may refuse to
accept the maritime security
document or may suspend his or her
acceptance of the document.
(3) This section applies to
(a) every ship, registered in a
State that is a party to the
Convention other than a Ghanaian
ship; and
(b) the company and the crew of
every ship to which this Act
applies excluding the crew of a
Ghanaian ship.
Section 39—Control of ships in
ports
(1) Where an lnternational Ship
Security Certificate required
under section 27 is not produced
with a reasonable excuse, or the
Director-General has reason to
believe that a ship is not in
compliance with the requirements
of this Act, the Director-General
shall impose one or more of the
following control measures:
(a) inspection of that ship for
the purpose of ascertaining
compliance with the certification
requirements of this Act including
(i)
the provision by the master, of
information that the
Director-General considers
relevant to the inspection;
(ii) a demonstration to the
Director-General that the master
or the relevant crew are familiar
with essential ship-board security
procedures; and
(iii) any shipboard security
procedure that is capable of being
carried out in a competent manner;
(b) the delay of that ship;
(c) the detention of that ship;
(d) a restriction of the
operations of that ship, including
its movement within the port;
(e) expulsion of that ship from
the port where
(i)
the Director-General has reason to
believe that the ship poses an
immediate threat to the security
or safety of persons, ships, or
other property within the port;
and
(ii) there are no other
appropriate means to overcome that
threat.
(2) Despite the provisions of any
other enactment, a ship may be
expelled under subsection (1).
(3) A control measure that is
imposed under subsection (1),
(a) shall correspond to the
expected requirements of the
circumstance; and
(b) may in addition or alternately
include any other minimized
administrative or corrective
measures.
(4) A control measure imposed
under subsection (1), shall remain
in force until the circumstance
that gave rise to the imposition
of the control measure is
regularized to the satisfaction of
the Director-General.
(5) Where a ship is expelled from
a port under paragraph (e) of
sub-section (1),
(a) the Director-General may
require the ship to proceed to a
specified location within the
territorial sea or Ghanaian
waters;
(b) the port facility operator
shall on the directives of the
Director-General, discontinue the
provision of services to that
ship;
(c) all exhaustive efforts shall
be made to avoid a ship being
unduly detained or delayed; and
(d) a person may be allowed to
leave the ship, or have access to
the ship for emergency,
humanitarian or security reasons.
Section 40—Inspection of ship
security plans
(1) The Director-General may
inspect the ship security plan of
a ship for purposes of the
imposition of control measures, if
(a) the Director-General has
reason to believe that a ship is
not in compliance with the
requirements of Chapter X1-2 of
the Annex to the Convention or
Part A of the Code;
(b) the Director-General considers
it necessary to review the
relevant requirements of a ship
security plan; and
(c) consent for the inspection to
review the relevant requirements
of the ship security plan is
granted by
(i)
the master of the ship; or
(ii) the ship's administration of
a State that is party to the
Convention.
(2) If the ship is not a Ghanaian
ship, the Director-General may
only have access to information
contained in the relevant sections
of the ship security plan that
relate to the suspected non
compliance.
(3) If the ship registered in a
State that is not a party to the
Convention, the Director-General
may authorise the full inspection
of the ship.
Section 41—Procedure to follow
where control measures are imposed
Where a control measure is imposed
under subsection (1) of section
39, or action is taken under
section 42, the Director-General
shall,
(a) with respect to a ship which
is not a Ghanaian ship, advise in
writing, the ship's administration
of,
(i)
the control measure imposed or
action taken; and
(ii) the reasons for imposing the
control measure or taking the
action; and
(b) provide written notice,
specifying when the control
measure was imposed or the action
taken, to
(i)
the International Maritime
Organisation;
(ii) the recognised security
organisation that issued the
certificate to the ship concerned
where applicable; or
(iii) the ship's administration.
(2) Where a ship is expelled from
a port under subsection 1(e) of
section 39, or entry into a port
is denied under subsection (3) of
section 37, the Director-General
shall communicate the information
to the relevant authority of
(a) the State of the next known
port of call, and
(b) any other coastal State.
(3) The communication under
subsection (2) shall
(a) include the following
information:
(i)
particulars of the ship's name,
flag, identification number, call
sign, ship type and cargo;
(ii) reasons for denial of entry
or expulsion from a port or port
areas;
(iii) the nature of any security
measures not complied with where
applicable;
(iv) details of any attempts made
to rectify any non-compliance with
security measures including any
conditions imposed on the ship for
the voyages, where applicable;
(v) any previous port of call and
next following declared port of
call;
(vi) time of departure of the ship
and the likely estimated time of
arrival of the ship at those
ports;
(vii) any instructions given to
the ship;
(viii) available information on
the security level at which the
ship is operating;
(ix) any information in respect of
communication the Authority has
had with the ship's
administration;
(x) the contact point within the
Authority for the purpose of
obtaining further information;
(xi) the crew list;
(xii) any other relevant
information; and
(b) take into account any relevant
official guidelines of the
International Maritime
Organisation.
(4) A person who, without
reasonable excuse fails to comply
with a control measure imposed by
the Director-General under
subsection (1) of section 39,
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction
(a) in the case fail an
individual, to fine not exceeding
2,500 penalty units or to a term
of imprisonment not exceeding 2
years; and
(b) in the case of a body
corporate, to a fine of not less
than 2,500 penalty units and not
exceeding 5,000 penalty units.
Section 42—Action to take where a
ship is not in compliance with
this Act
(1) Where the Director-General has
reason to believe that a ship is
not in compliance with this Act,
the Director-General shall contact
the master of the ship or the
ship's administration to address
the non compliance and carry out
the necessary action for that
ship.
(2) Where communication made under
subsection (1) does not result in
the required compliance, the
Director-General may take one or
more of the following actions:
(a) require the necessary
rectification to ensure
compliance;
(b) require the ship to proceed
to a specified location within the
territorial sea or Ghanaian
waters;
(c) inspect the ship to ascertain
compliance with the certification
requirements of this Act where
applicable;
(d) deny the ship entry, if the
Director-General has reason to
believe that the ship poses an
immediate threat to the security
or safety of persons, ships, or
property and there are no other
means to overcome that threat.
(3) The Authority shall, prior to
any action being taken under
subsection (2) (b), notify the
master of the ship, in such manner
as the Director-General may
determine, of the
Director-General's intentions.
(4) Any action that is taken under
subsection (2) (b) shall
correspond to the expected
requirements of the circumstance.
(5) Where a ship is denied entry
under subsection (2) (d),
(a) all exhaustive efforts shall
be made to avoid a ship being
unduly detained or delayed; and
(b) a person may be allowed to
leave the ship, or have access to
the ship, for emergency,
humanitarian or security reasons.
(6) Where a ship is denied entry
to the port under subsection (2)
(d), the port facility operator
shall on the directives of the
Director-General discontinue the
provision of services to that
ship.
(7) Any action taken under this
section remains in force until the
circumstance that gave rise to the
action taken is regularized to the
satisfaction of the
Director-General.
Sub-Part V—Designation of officers
and responsibilities of companies
and ship personnel
Section 43—Company Security
Officer
(1) The company of a Ghanaian
ship shall designate a company
security officer for purposes of
this Act.
(2) A company security officer
may act as the company security
officer for one or more ships,
except that it shall be clearly
identified for which ship the
company security officer is
responsible.
(3) The company shall ensure that
each company security officer
receives the appropriate training
to enable him or her perform
functions which shall include the
following:
(a) advising the level of threats
likely to be encountered by the
ship, using appropriate security
assessments and other relevant
information;
(b) ensuring that ship security
assessments are carried out;
(c) ensuring the development, the
submission for approval, and the
subsequent implementation and
maintenance of the ship security
plan;
(d) ensuring that the ship
security plan is modified as
appropriate to correct
deficiencies and satisfy the
security requirements of the
individual ship;
(e) arranging for internal audits
and reviews of security
activities;
(f) arranging for the initial and
subsequent verifications of the
ship, by the Authority or a
recognised security Organisation;
(g) ensuring that deficiencies and
non-conformities identified during
internal audits, periodic reviews,
security inspections and
verifications of compliance are
promptly addressed and dealt with;
(h) enhancing security awareness
and vigilance;
(i)
ensuring adequate training for
shipboard personnel responsible
for the security of the ship;
(j) ensuring effective
communication and co-operation
between the ship security officer
and the relevant port facility
security officers;
(k) ensuring consistency between
security requirements and safety
requirements;
(l) ensuring that if sister-ship
or fleet security plans are used,
the plan for each ship reflects
the ship's specific information
accurately;
(m) ensuring that any alternative
or equivalent arrangements
approved for a particular ship or
group of ships are implemented and
maintained; and
(n) any other function specified
in the Code.
Section 44—Ship Security Officer
(1) The company of a Ghanaian ship
shall designate a ship security
officer for each ship under its
ownership or control for purposes
of this Act.
(2) The company shall ensure that
each ship security officer
receives the appropriate training
to enable him or her perform
functions which shall include the
following:
(a) undertaking regular security
inspections of the ship to ensure
that appropriate security measures
are maintained;
(b) maintaining and supervising
the implementation of the ship
security plan, including any
amendments to the plan;
(c) co-ordinating the security
aspects of the handling of cargo
and ship's stores with other
shipboard personnel and with the
relevant port facility security
officers;
(d) proposing modifications to
the ship security plan;
(e) reporting to the company
security officer any deficiencies
and non-conformities identified
during internal audits, periodic
reviews, security inspections and
verifications of compliance and
implementing any corrective
measures;
(f) enhancing security awareness
and vigilance on board ship;
(g) ensuring that adequate
training has been provided to
shipboard personnel, including
drills at appropriate intervals
where applicable;
(h) reporting all security
incidents;
(i)
co-ordinating implementation of
the ship security plan with the
company security officer and the
port facility security officer
concerned;
(j) ensuring that security
equipment is properly operated,
tested, calibrated and maintained
where applicable; and
(k) any other function specified
in the Code.
Section 45—Shipboard personnel
Shipboard personnel shall comply
with their duties and
responsibilities as specified in
the ship security plan.
Section 46— Master's
responsibilities for ship safety
and security
(1) A company, charterer, or any
other person shall not interfere
with a decision of the master of a
ship if that decision is made with
the intention to maintain the
safety and security of that ship,
including a decision in respect of
(a) denial of access to
unidentified persons or their
personal effects,
(b) refusal to load cargo,
including containers and other
closed cargo transport units.
(2) The company of a Ghanaian ship
shall ensure that the master and
the ship security officer are
given the necessary support to
fulfill their duties and
responsibilities under this Act.
(3) Where in the judgment of the
master, a conflict between any
safety and security requirements
applicable to the ship arises
during its operations, the master
(a) shall give effect to the
requirements necessary to maintain
the safety of the ship;
(b) may implement temporary
security measures commensurate
with the prevailing security
level;
(c) shall inform the Authority as
soon as practicable; and
(d) shall in the case of a
Ghanaian ship that enters a port
outside the jurisdiction of the
country, inform the government of
the State in which the port is
located.
(4) Where the Authority is
informed under subsection (3)(c),
the Director-General shall confer
with the master of the ship on
(a) the nature and gravity of the
conflict; and
(b) the appropriate resolution for
the conflict.
(5) Where the conflict identified
under subsection (4) involves a
port facility, the master and the
Director-General shall consult the
port facility security officer of
that port facility prior to taking
any action specified under
subsection (3).
(6) A person who is on official
duty,
(a) may board a ship to carry out
his or her functions or duties,
and
(b) shall on request by the master
of the ship or ship security
officer, present to the master or
officer his or her identity card
issued by the Authority.
Section 47—Costs of detention
(1) Where a ship is detained under
subsection (1) (c) of section 39,
a company of the ship shall pay to
the Authority
(a) costs for the detention of
that ship;
(b) incidental costs arising out
of the detention of that ship
including
(i)
costs for inspection and audit;
and
(ii) costs incurred by the port
facility operator as a result of
the detention.
(2) The costs specified under
subsection (1) are payable without
prejudice to any other remedy the
Authority is entitled to recover
as a debt through the due process
of law.
(3) The Authority shall pay to the
company of a ship, compensation
for any loss resulting from the
undue detention or undue delay of
that ship.
(4) A complainant shall indemnify
the Authority for all costs for
which the Authority is liable
under sub-section (3), where
(a) a ship is detained due to
information provided by that
complainant,
(b) the information provided by
the complainant is subsequently
found to be false, and
(c) the complainant knew that the
information was false, at the time
the complainant provided it.
(5) In this section, "complainant"
means a company that is aggrieved
by the decision of the Authority
in respect of the detention of the
company's ship.
PART V—PORT SECURITY
Section 48—Duties of port
facility operator
A
port facility operator shall
(a) operate in conformity with
the security level specified by
the Authority;
(b) apply security measures and
procedures in a manner that
minimizes interference with, or
delay to, passengers, ships, the
personnel of ships, visitors,
goods and services; and
(c) appoint port facility
security officers for purposes of
this Act.
Section 49—Port facility security
assessment
(1) The Authority shall carry out
a port facility security
assessment of each port facility
within the country.
(2) The Authority may authorise a
recognised security organisation
to carry out a port facility
security assessment.
(3) Where a port facility security
assessment is carried out by a
recognised security Organisation,
the Director-General shall review
the assessment and ensure that it
complies with subsection (1) of
section 51.
(4) Where the Director-General is
satisfied that the assessment
complies with the requirements
specified in subsection (1) of
section 51, he or she may approve
the assessment.
(5) The Authority shall ensure
that each port facility security
assessment is—
(a) periodically reviewed and
updated, taking into account
changing threats or minor changes
in the port facility; and
(b) reviewed as soon as
practicable in the event of any
major changes to the
infrastructure of the port
facility.
(6) A port facility security
assessment may cover more than one
port facility where
(a) the operator, location,
operation, equipment, and design
of those port facilities are
similar; and
(b) the Authority agrees to this
arrangement.
(7) Where a port facility security
assessment covers more than one
facility, details of this
arrangement shall be submitted in
writing by the Authority to the
International Maritime
Organisation.
Section 50—Report on port facility
security assessment
(1) Upon completion of a port
facility security assessment, the
person who carried out the
assessment shall prepare for the
Authority a report that contains,
(a) a summary of how the
assessment was conducted;
(b) a description of each
vulnerability discovered during
the assessment; and
(c) a description of
countermeasures that could be
employed to address each
vulnerability.
(2) The report shall be protected
from unauthorised access or
disclosure.
(3) Any person who without
authorisation discloses a report
or gives access to a report
contrary to subsection (2),
commits an offence and is liable
on summary conviction to a fine of
not less than 500 penalty units
and not exceeding 5,000 penalty
units or to a term of imprisonment
not exceeding 5 years or to both.
Section 51—Content of port
facility security assessment
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a
valid port facility security
assessment shall specify the
following details,
(a) identification and evaluation
of important assets and
infrastructure that are necessary
to protect;
(b) identification of possible
threats to the assets and
infrastructure and the likelihood
of their occurrence, in order to
establish and prioritize security
measures;
(c) identification, selection and
prioritization of counter measures
and procedural changes and their
level of effectiveness in reducing
vulnerability; and
(d) identification of weaknesses
including human factors in the
infrastructure, policies and
procedures.
(2) The Authority may, by notice
published in the Gazette,
prescribe additional requirements
to be met by a port facility
security assessment.
Section 52—Port facility security
plan
(1) A port facility operator shall
(a) develop, implement, and
maintain a port facility security
plan based on the port facility
security assessment of that port
facility;
(b) design a port facility
security plan to suit the purposes
of ship-port interface;
(c) update that port facility
security plan by a review of that
plan; and
(d) protect that port facility
security plan from unauthorised
access or disclosure.
(2) A port facility security plan
(a) shall provide for the three
security levels specified under
section 7, and
(b) may cover more than 1 port
facility where
(i)
the operator, location, operation,
equipment, and design of those
port facilities are similar; and
(ii) the Authority agrees to the
arrangement.
(3) A recognised security
Organisation may prepare the port
facility security plan for a port
facility.
(4) A port facility security plan
or an amendment to an approved
plan shall not be implemented
without the written approval of
the Minister.
(5) Any person who without
authorisation discloses a port
facility security plan or gives
access to a port facility security
plan, contrary to paragraph (d) of
subsection (1), commits an offence
and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine of not less
than 500 penalty units and not
exceeding 5,000 penalty units or
to a term of imprisonment not
exceeding 5 years or to both.
Section 53—Content of a port
facility security plan
(1) A valid port facility
security plan shall contain the
following matters:
(a) measures designed to prevent
weapons or any other dangerous
substances and devices intended
for use against persons, ships or
ports and the carriage of which is
not authorised, from being
introduced into the port facility
or on board a ship;
(b) measures designed to prevent
unauthorised access to the port
facility, ships moored at the
facility, and to restricted areas
of the facility;
(c) procedures for responding to
security threats or breaches of
security including provisions for
maintaining critical operations of
the port facility or ship-port
interface;
(d) procedures for evacuation in
case of security threats or
breaches of security;
(e) duties of port facility
personnel assigned security
responsibilities and of other port
facility personnel on security
aspects;
(f) procedures for interfacing
with ship security activities;
(g) procedures for the periodic
review of the plan and updating of
the plan;
(h) procedures for reporting
security incidents;
(i)
identification of the port
facility security officer
including 24-hour contact details;
(j) measures to ensure the
security of the information
contained in the plan;
(k) measures designed to ensure
effective security of cargo and
the cargo handling equipment at
the port facility;
(l) procedures for auditing the
port facility security plan;
(m) procedures for facilitating
shore leave for the ship's
personnel or personnel changes, as
well as access of visitors to the
ship including representatives of
seafarers welfare and labour
organisations; and
(n) procedures for responding
where the ship security alert
system of a ship at the port
facility is activated.
Section 54—Submission of port
facility security plan or
amendment for approval
(1) A port facility operator or a
recognised security organisation,
may after preparation of a port
facility security plan or
amendment to an approved plan in
accordance with sections 52 and
53, submit to the Minister for
approval
(a) that port facility security
plan, or
(b) the amendment of that approved
port facility security plan,
accompanied with such fee and
documents as the Minister may
determine.
Section 55—Approval by Minister of
port facility security plan or
amendment.
(1) The Minister shall not approve
a port facility security plan or
any amendment to an approved plan
submitted under section 54 unless
he or she is satisfied that the
plan or amendment to the plan,
(a) conforms with Part A of the
Code and sections 52 and 53; and
(b) corresponds with the security
assessment for that port facility.
(2) The Minister shall within 15
days of receipt of a port facility
security plan or amendment,
submitted under section 54, inform
in writing the port facility
operator or recognised security
Organisation of his or her
decision.
(3) Where a written approval of
the Minister is obtained under
subsection (2), the port facility
operator or recognised security
organisation shall keep in the
form specified in Schedule VIII,
that approval at the port facility
for presentation on request by the
Director-General.
(4) Where written approval is
given by the Minister for a
temporary amendment to an approved
port facility security plan or for
a temporary change to any security
equipment specified in an approved
plan, the retention of the written
approval for the temporary
amendment or temporary change
shall not be required provided the
original approved measures or
equipment are effectively
implemented.
Section 56—Review of decision not
to approve port facility security
plan
(1) Where the Minister decides not
to approve a port facility
security plan or amendment to a
previously approved port facility
security plan, the port facility
operator or recognised security
organisation, may within ten
working days request in writing
the Minister to review his or her
decision.
(2) The Minister shall within 15
working days of the receipt of a
request under subsection (1),
carry out the review and report in
writing the results of the review
to the port facility operator or
recognised security organisation.
(3) A port facility operator or
recognised security organisation,
dissatisfied with the decision of
the Minister under subsection (2),
may appeal to the High Court.
Section 57—Port Facility Security
Officer
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a
port facility operator shall
designate a port facility security
officer for each port facility.
(2) A port facility operator may
designate a port facility security
officer for one or more port
facilities.
(3) The duties of a port facility
security officer include
(a) conducting an initial
comprehensive security survey of
the port facility, taking into
account the relevant port facility
security assessment;
(b) ensuring the development and
maintenance of the port facility
security plan;
(c) implementing and exercising
the port facility security plan;
(d) undertaking regular security
inspections of the port facility
to ensure the continuation of
appropriate security measures;
(e) recommending and
incorporating, as appropriate,
modifications to the port facility
security plan in order to correct
deficiencies and to update the
plan to take into account any
relevant changes to the port
facility;
(f) enhancing security awareness
and vigilance of the port facility
personnel;
(g) ensuring adequate training has
been provided to personnel
responsible for the security of
the port facility;
(h) reporting to the relevant
authorities, occurrences which
threaten the security of the port
facility and maintaining records
of the occurrences;
(i)
co-ordinating the implementation
of the port facility security plan
with the appropriate company and
any ship security officer
concerned;
(j) co-ordinating with other
national security services, as are
appropriate;
(k) ensuring that standards for
personnel responsible for security
of the port facility are met;
(l) ensuring that security
equipment is properly operated,
tested, calibrated and maintained;
and
(m) assisting when requested, the
ship security officers in
confirming the identity of those
seeking to board the ship.
(4) A port facility operator shall
ensure that the port facility
security officer is given the
necessary support to fulfill his
or her duties and responsibilities
specified in Chapter X1-2 of the
Convention and in this Act.
Section 58—Designation of port
security zones
(1) For the purposes of additional
security requirements, the
Authority may by notice published
in the Gazette, designate
(a) a port facility;
(b) any area in a port facility;
or
(c) any other area within a port
as a port security zone.
(2) The Gazette notice under
subsection (1) shall include a map
of the port and specify the area
that shows the boundaries of the
port security zone and the
effective date of the designation.
(3) A designation made under
subsection (1) may
(a) be revoked in whole or in
part; or
(b) be amended
by the Authority by notice
published in the Gazette.
Section 59—Matters to be
considered in establishing port
security zone
In designating a port security
zone, the Authority shall have
regard to the purposes for the
zone, and take into account,
(a) the existing physical features
of the port;
(b) the existing operational
features of the port; and
(c) the opinion of the port
facility operator.
Section 60—Restrictions with
respect to port security zones
(1) A person shall not enter or
remain in a port security zone
unless
(a) that person is in the course
of official duties; or
(b) that person is authorised by
the Director-General or port
facility operator to do so.
(2) Every person in a port
security zone shall on the request
of an authorised person provide,
(a) his or her name and address;
(b) the purpose of his or her
visit to the port security zone;
(c) his or her authority to enter
the port security zone; and
(d) verification of the
correctness of his or her stated
name and address.
(3) Where a person who is
requested by an authorised person,
(a) fails or refuses to provide
that authorised person with
satisfactory evidence of his or
her name and address; or
(b) fails to satisfy that
authorised person that he or she
is authorised to be there,
the authorised person may order
that person to leave the port
security zone.
(4) The authorised person and any
person whom the authorised person
calls to his or her assistance,
may use reasonable force necessary
to remove from the port security
zone a person who fails or refuses
to leave the port security zone
after having been ordered by the
authorised person to do so under
subsection (3).
(5) A person who refuses to comply
with a request under subsection
(2), and after being cautioned of
the consequences of his or her
failure to comply, may be detained
by the authorised person, or a
port facility security officer.
(6) A person detained under
subsection (5), shall as soon as
practicable after arrest be
delivered to a police officer.
(7) A passenger or crew member who
embarks or disembarks directly
through gateways or thoroughfares
in a port facility approved for
that purpose by the port facility
operator shall be considered to be
authorised by the Authority to
pass through any port security
zone that forms part of those
gateways or thorough-fares.
(8) A person who by reason of his
or her official duties, is
required to enter a port security
zone, shall after entry and on
request by an authorised person,
present his or her employment
identity.
(9) A person who willfully fails
to provide satisfactory evidence
of his or her name and address or
authorisation to be in a port
security zone in contravention of
this section, commits an offence
and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding
500 penalty units or to a term of
imprisonment not exceeding 2
years, or to both.
Section 61—Taking weapons onto
ships or into port security zones
(1) A person shall not without
reasonable excuse, or without the
written permission of the ship
security officer or the port
facility security officer, take or
attempt to take on board a ship or
into a port security zone,
(a) a firearm;
(b) a dangerous or offensive
weapon or instrument;
(c) any ammunition; or
(d) an explosive, incendiary,
biological or chemical substance
or device or any other injurious
substance or device that may be
used to endanger the safety of
(i)
the ship;
(ii) any person on board the ship;
(iii) the port security zone; or
(iv) any person within the port
security zone.
(2) A person who has obtained the
written permission of a ship
security officer or a port
facility security officer shall on
the request of an authorised
person, present the written
permission to that authorised
person.
(3) For purposes of this section,
"firearm" means any gun, rifle, or
pistol, whether operated by force
of explosives or not and includes
any gun, rifle, or pistol that
(a) is capable or incapable of
discharging any shot, bullet, or
other missile; or
(b) is dismantled.
Section 62—Screening and searching
powers
(1) An authorised person may use a
detector dog, a mechanical or
electronic device or similar
mechanism to screen
(a) any person boarding a ship;
(b) any thing to be carried by a
ship;
(c) any thing in the port
security zone; or
(d) any person including that
person's personal effects or
vehicle within or entering a port
security zone.
(2) Where the screening device or
mechanism under subsection (1)
ceases to function or produces
indeterminate results or results
that provide reason to believe
that a person has committed an
offence or is likely to commit an
offence under this Act, an
authorised person may search
(a) any person boarding the ship,
(b) any thing to be carried by
the ship,
(c) any thing in the port
security zone, or
(d) any person including that
person's personal effects or
vehicle within or entering the
port security zone, without the
use of the screening device or
other mechanism provided for under
subsection (1).
Section 63—Power to seize and
detain items
(1) Where an authorised person has
reason to believe that it is not
lawful to take an item on board a
ship or into a port security zone,
that authorised person may seize
the item for the purpose of
determining whether the item may
lawfully be taken on board that
ship or into that port security
zone.
(2) Where an item is seized under
subsection (1), the authorised
person shall
(a) take an inventory of the
item; and
(b) give a copy of the inventory
to the owner or the person from
whom the item was seized.
(3) Where the authorised person
determines that the item may
lawfully be taken on board the
ship, or into the port security
zone, the authorised person shall
as soon as practicable, return the
item to the person from whom the
item was seized.
(4) Where the authorised person
determines that the item may not
lawfully be taken on board the
ship or into the port security
zone, the authorised person shall
permit the person from whom the
item was seized, to arrange for
the item to be
(a) taken off the ship; or
(b) taken out of the port
security zone.
(5) Despite subsection (4), where
the authorised person has reason
to believe that the seized item
poses an imminent risk to safety
or may not be lawfully possessed,
the authorised person may
(a) destroy or otherwise dispose
of the item; or
(b) deliver the item to the
police.
Section 64—Cost of seizures
(1) Where an authorised person has
seized an item under section 63,
the Authority may recover from
either the owner of the item or
the person who was in possession
of the item, all reasonable costs
of the seizure and costs
incidental to that seizure.
(2) The Authority shall pay to the
owner of the item, compensation
for any loss resulting from
(a) the undue detention of the
item; or
(b) any delay that prevented the
normal use of the item.
(3) A complainant shall indemnify
the Authority for all costs for
which the Authority is liable
under subsection (2), if
(a) an authorised person has taken
action under section 63, based on
information provided by the
complainant;
(b) the information provided by
the complainant is subsequently
found to be false; and
(c) the complainant knew that the
information was false at the time
he or she provided it.
(4) For the purposes of this
section, a "complainant" means a
person who is aggrieved as a
result of the seizure or detention
by an authorised person of an item
seized or detained under section
63.
Section 65—Person who refuses
screening or searching
(1) Where a person refuses to have
(a) his or her person screened or
searched; or
(b) his or her baggage screened or
searched
by an authorised person, the
authorised person may require that
person to leave the ship or port
security zone or both.
(2) Where a person refuses to
leave as required under subsection
(1), the authorised person and any
other person on directives of the
authorised person, may use
reasonable force to remove that
person.
(3) Where a person refuses to
leave as required under subsection
(1), and after being cautioned by
the authorised person of the
consequences of his or her
refusal, persists in refusing to
leave, that person
(a) may be forcibly detained by
the authorised person; and
(b) shall where detained, be
delivered as soon as practicable
to a police officer.
(4) Where the person who refuses
to be screened or searched is a
passenger or a crew member, the
company or master of the ship
shall refuse to allow that
passenger or crew member to board
the company's ship.
(5) The company or master of the
ship which refuses to carry a
passenger, under subsection (4),
shall not be subject to civil
liability other than a proceeding
in respect of any lawful claim
that the passenger may have for
the recovery of the fare or part
of the fare.
Section 66—Search of persons who
refuse to be searched
(1) A police officer may, without
a warrant,
(a) search a person;
(b) search a person's baggage;
(c) detain a person for purposes
of a search; or
(d) take possession of any article
referred to under subsection (1)
of section 61.
(2) A police officer may exercise
his or her powers of search under
subsection (1) where
(a) the company of a ship or
master of that ship, refuses to
carry a person who has refused a
search of his or her person or
baggage; and
(b) the police officer has reason
to suspect that
(i)
an offence under this Act has
been, is being or is likely to be
committed, by that person or by
any other person; or
(ii) a search of the person who
has refused to be searched is
likely to disclose evidence that
an offence under this Act has
been, is being or is likely to be
committed, by that person or any
other person.
(3) A police officer who exercises
the power of search under
subsection (1), shall prior to the
search and upon any subsequent
request,
(a) provide evidence of his or her
identity to the person to be
searched; and
(b) inform the person required to
be searched that the search is
authorised.
(4) Where a police officer
exercises the power of search
under subsection (1), he or she
shall within 3 days after the day
on which he or she exercises the
power, furnish the regional
commander of Police with a written
report on the search conducted and
reasons for the search.
Section 67—Right of access to port
security zones and ships
(1) A maritime security officer
appointed undersection 71 (1), may
in the course of duty enter
(a) a port security zone;
(b) any building, vehicle or place
within a port security zone; or
(c) any ship
for the purpose of exercising his
or her powers, and carrying out
functions and duties under this
Act.
(2) Unless a maritime security
officer is accompanied by a police
officer, the power of entry
conferred under subsection (1),
shall be limited to a peaceful and
non-forcible entry.
(3) Where the police have taken
command of any situation at a port
security zone, the right of an
authorised person to enter any
part of the port facility or any
ship, building or place within the
port facility, shall be subject to
the limitations imposed by the
most senior police officer present
at the port facility.
(4) Where a ship, building,
vehicle or place is not being used
for commercial purposes,
subsection (1) does not apply,
unless the maritime security
officer has reason to believe that
a person or thing is likely to
endanger
(a) the port security zone;
(b) facilities within the port; or
(c) any person within that ship,
building, vehicle or place.
(5) A police officer or an
authorised person may not enter a
dwelling house, crew quarters or a
passenger cabin without
(a) a search warrant; or
(b) the consent of the occupier of
that dwelling house, crew
quarters, or passenger cabin.
(6) A maritime security officer
who exercises the power of entry
under this section, shall prior to
and on any subsequent request
(a) provide evidence of his or her
identity to the occupier and
(b) inform the occupier that the
entry is authorised.
Section 68—Authority may declare
exclusion zones for ships
(1) The Authority may declare an
exclusion zone around a ship where
(a) the Authority considers it
necessary for the maintenance of
effective security for that ship;
and
(b) that ship is
(i)
berthed in port or is at an
anchorage,
(ii) moored at a buoy; or
(iii) in the approaches to a port.
(2) Where the Authority makes a
declaration under subsection (1),
the Director-General shall notify
(a) the master of the ship;
(b) the port facility security
officer;
(c) the port facility operator;
and
(d) the harbour master
through any means of communication
that the Director-General
considers appropriate.
(3) A declaration made under
subsection (1) shall take effect
on the date that it is
communicated to the master.
(4) The declaration shall expire 5
days after the date on which it
takes effect unless, before the
expiry, the Authority extends the
period for a further specified
period not exceeding 5 days.
(5) Despite subsection (4), the
Authority may revoke a declaration
at any time.
Section 69—Entering or leaving
exclusion zones without
authorisation
(1) A person, craft, or vessel
shall not enter or leave an
exclusion zone unless authorised
to do so by the Director-General.
(2) Where it is necessary to
protect an exclusion zone, an
authorised person may with
reasonable force
(a) remove a person who has
entered the exclusion zone without
authority;
(b) prevent a person who has
entered the zone without
authority, from leaving the zone;
(c) prevent a person who attempts
to leave the zone without
authority;
(d) prevent a craft, or vessel
which has entered the exclusion
zone without authority, from
leaving the zone;
(e) prevent a craft, or vessel
which attempts to leave the zone.
(3) A person who contravenes
subsection (1), commits an offence
and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding
500 penalty units or to a term of
imprisonment not exceeding 2
years.
(4) The master of a craft or
vessel who contravenes subsection
(1) commits an offence and is
liable on summary conviction to a
fine not exceeding 2,500 penalty
units and the craft or vessel
shall be detained until the fine
is paid.
PART VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 70—Ministerial
responsibility and directives
The Minister shall have
ministerial responsibility for
this Act and may give to the
Authority such directives of a
general nature on the maritime
security policy to be followed by
the Authority in the performance
of its functions.
Section 71—Maritime security
officers
(1) For the purposes of this Act,
a person may be appointed by the
Authority as a maritime security
officer.
(2) A maritime security officer
appointed under subsection (1)
shall carry out such functions the
Authority may determine for the
purpose of giving full effect to
this Act.
Section 72—Regulations
(1) The Minister may by
legislative instrument in
consultation with the board of the
Authority make Regulations for the
effective implementation of this
Act.
(2) Without prejudice to
subsection (1), Regulations may be
made prescribing matters relating
to
(a) port facility security
assessments;
(b) port facility security plans;
(c) ship security assessments;
(d) ship security plans;
(e) security levels;
(f) Declaration of Security;
(g) verification processes for
issuance of certificates under
this Act;
(h) recognised security
organisations; and
(i)
control and compliance measures.
Section 73—Consequential amendment
The Ghana Shipping Act, 2003 (Act
645), is amended as follows
(a) by the substitution for the
headnote of section 289 of the
following new headnote
"Ship not to proceed to sea
without appropriate certificates
and documents"; and
(b) in subsection (1) of section
289 by the insertion immediately
after the word 'ship' appearing on
line 3 of the following:
"a ship security plan and an
International Ship Security
Certificate and;"
Section 74—Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires,
"authorised person" includes a
maritime security officer
appointed under section 71 (1) of
this Act, a customs officer, and
any other person required to
perform any official duties for
purposes of giving effect to this
Act;
"Authority" means the Ghana
Maritime Authority established
under section 1 of the Ghana
Maritime Authority Act 2002, (Act
630);
"certificate" means a valid
International Ship Security
Certificate under section 30 or a
valid Interim International Ship
Security Certificate issued under
section 35;
"Code" means the International
Ship and Port Facility Security
Code, as adopted, on 12 December
2002, by resolution 2 of the
Conference of Contracting
Governments to the Convention;
"company" means a body corporate
registered under the Companies
Code, 1963 (Act 179), or a
partnership registered under the
Incorporated Partnership Act, 1962
(Act 152) which has assumed the
responsibility for the operation
of a ship from the owner of the
ship and which has agreed to take
over all the duties and
responsibilities imposed by the
International Safety Management
Code;
"company security officer" means
the person on board the ship, who
is accountable to the master, and
designated by the company as
responsible for the security of
the ship including the
implementation and maintenance of
the ship security plan, and for
liaising with the port facility
security officer;
"Convention" means the
International Convention for the
Safety of life at Sea, done at
London on 1 November 1974, and
includes—
(a) the Annex and Appendix to the
Convention,
(b) amendments of the Convention,
and
(c) protocols to the Convention;
"customs officer" means any person
employed in the Customs, Excise
and Preventive Service, as well as
any person acting in the aid of
any such person; and any person
acting in aid of an officer acting
in the execution of his or her
duty, shall be considered to be an
officer acting in the execution of
his or her duty;
"Declaration of Security" means a
Declaration of Security determined
by the Minister under subsections
(1) and (2) of section 9;
"Director-General" means the
Director-General appointed under
section 11 of the Ghana Maritime
Authority Act 2002 (Act 630);
"Ghanaian ship" means a ship
registered or licensed under the
Ghana Shipping Act, 2003 (Act 645)
or a ship owned by Ghanaians but
exempted from being registered or
licensed under Act 645 and
includes
(a) a passenger ship that is used
for international voyage or a
voyage within Ghana, and
(b) a cargo ship of 500 or more
gross tonnage that is used for
international voyage or a voyage
within Ghana;
"high-speed craft" means a craft
capable of a maximum speed in
metres per second equal to or
exceeding—
VO. 1667
3.7
3
where V is the displacement
corresponding to the design
waterline (m);
"International Safety Management
Code" means the International
Management Code for the Safe
Operation of Ships and for
Pollution Prevention adopted on 4
November 1993 by the International
Maritime Organisation by
Resolution A741 (18);
"maritime security document" means
a document issued or approved by a
party to the Convention for the
purpose of the Code;
"maritime security officer" means
a person who is appointed under
section 71(1) to carry out
maritime security functions;
"master" includes every person who
lawfully has, for the time being,
command or charge of a ship;
"Minister" means the Minister
responsible for Maritime
transportation;
"mobile offshore drilling unit"
means a mechanically propelled
unit or vessel that is capable of
engaging in drilling operations
for the exploration for, or
exploitation of, resources beneath
the seabed such as liquid or
gaseous hydrocarbons, sulphur, or
salt;
"oil tanker" means an oil tanker
as defined in regulation 1 of
Annex 1 of the Protocol of 1978
relating to the International
Convention for the Prevention of
pollution from Ships 1973;
"Organisation" means the
International Maritime
Organisation;
"passenger ship" means a vessel
which is constructed for or which
is habitually or on any particular
occasion used for carrying more
than twelve passengers;
"pleasure craft" means a ship,
however propelled, that is used
exclusively for pleasure and does
not carry passengers or cargo for
hire or reward;
"port" means an area of water, or
land and water including any
buildings, installations or
equipment situated in or on that
land or water intended for use
either wholly or partly in
connection with the movement,
loading, unloading, maintenance or
provisioning of ships, and
includes
(a) areas of water, between the
land of the port and the open
waters outside the port, intended
for use by ships to gain access to
loading, unloading or other
land-based facilities; and
(b) areas of open water intended
for anchoring or otherwise holding
ships before they enter areas of
water, including areas of open
water between the areas of water;
"port facility" means a location,
as determined by the
Director-General, where the
ship-port interface takes place,
including areas such as
anchorages, waiting berths, and
approaches from seaward; and
includes fixed and floating
platforms;
"port facility operator" means
(a) the owner of the port
facility; or
(b) the manager of the port
facility, or
(c) any other person who is, for
the time being, responsible for
the management of the port
facility;
"port facility security officer"
means the person designated under
subsection (1) section 57 by the
port facility operator;
"port facility security plan"
means a plan developed to ensure
the application of measures
designed to protect a port
facility, ships, persons, cargo,
cargo transport units, and ship's
stores within the port facility
from the risks of a security
incident;
"recognised security Organisation"
means an organisation appointed
under subsection (1) of section 5
and includes a security
organisation affiliated to the IMO
or designated by the Minister as
competent for appointment by the
Authority in accordance with
subsection (4) of section 5;
"security incident" means any
suspicious act or circumstance
that threatens the security of a
(a) ship,
(b) a mobile offshore drilling
unit and high-speed craft;
(c) a port facility;
(d) ship-port interface; or
(e) ship-to ship activity;
"security level" means the
quantification of the degree of
risk that a security incident will
be attempted or will occur;
"security level 1" means the level
for which minimum appropriate
protective security measures must
be maintained at all times for a
period of time as a result of
heightened risk of a security
incident;
"security level 2" means the level
for which appropriate additional
Protective security measures must
be maintained at all times;
"security level 3" means the level
for which further specific
protective security measures must
be maintained for a limited period
of time when a security incident
is probable or imminent, although
it may not be possible to identify
the specific target;
"security regulated port" means a
port or port facility subject to a
Declaration of security under
subsection (3) of Section 9;
"ship-port interface" means the
interaction that occurs when a
ship is directly and immediately
affected by actions involving the
movement of persons, goods, or the
provision of port services to or
from the ship;
"ship security officer" means a
person designated under subsection
(1) of section 44;
"ship security plan" means a plan
developed to ensure the
application of measures on board
the ship designed to protect
persons on board, cargo, cargo
transport units, ship's stores, or
the ship from the risks of a
security incident;
"ship-to-ship activity" means any
activity not related to a port
facility that involves the
transfer of goods or persons from
one ship to another;
"ship's administration" means the
government of the State in which
the ship is registered;
"territorial limits of the
Republic of Ghana" means the
internal waters, territorial sea,
contiguous zone and any safety
zones around sea installations in
the exclusive economic zone of
Ghana.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE I
(Section 11(4) and 11(5))
Form of a Declaration of Security
between a ship and a port facility
DECLARATION OF SECURITY
Name of
Ship
Port of Registry
IMO Number
Name of Port
Facility
This Declaration of Security is
valid from ......................
until .................., for the
following activities
(list the activities with relevant
details)
under the following security
levels
Security level(s) for the
ship
Security level(s) for the port
facility
The port facility and ship agree
to the following security measures
and responsibilities to ensure
compliance with the requirements
of Part A of the International
Code for the Security of Ships and
of Port Facilities.
The affixing of the initials of
the SSO and PFSO done, in
accordance with relevant approval
plan, by
Activity
The port
facility
The ship:
Ensuring the performance of all
security duties
Monitoring restricted areas to
ensure that only authorised
personnel have access
Controlling access to the port
facility
Controlling access to the ship
Monitoring of the port facility,
including berthing areas and areas
surrounding the ship
Monitoring of the ship, including
berthing areas and areas
surrounding the ship
Handling of cargo
Delivery of ship's stores
This form of Declaration of
Security is for use between a ship
and a port facility. If the
Declaration of Security is to
cover two ships, this model should
be appropriately modified.
Handling unaccompanied baggage
Controlling the embarkation of
persons and their effects
Ensuring that security
communication is readily available
between the ship and port facility
The signatories to this agreement
certify that security measures and
arrangements for both the port
facility and the ship during the
specified activities meet the
provisions of chapter X1-2 and
Part A of Code that will be
implemented in accordance with the
provisions already stipulated in
their approved plan or the
specific arrangements agreed to
and set out in the attached annex.
Dated at
.....................................................
on the
.................................
Signed for and on behalf of |
|
The port facility |
the ship |
(Signature of Ship Security
Officer) (Signature of Port
Facility Security Officer)
Name and title of person who
signed |
Name |
Name |
Title |
Title |
Contact Details
(to be completed as
appropriate)
(indicate the telephone
numbers or the radio channels
or frequencies to be used) |
For the port facility
|
For the ship |
Port Facility Security
Officer
Ship Security Officer
Company
Port Facility
Operator
Company Security Officer
SCHEDULE II
(Section 29(4))
ENDORSEMENT WHERE THE RENEWAL
VERIFICATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED
AND SECTION A/19.3.4 OF THE ISPS
CODE APPLIES
The ship complies with the
relevant provisions of Part A of
the ISPS Code, and the Certificate
shall, in accordance with section
19.3.4 of Part A of the ISPS
Code, be accepted as valid until
.............................
Signed.............................................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place
...........................................
Date
..............................................
(Seal or stamp of Authority, as
appropriate)
SCHEDULE III
(SECTION 29(4))
ENDORSEMENT FOR INTERMEDIATE
VERIFICATION
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that at an
intermediate verification required
by section 19.1.1 of Part A of the
ISPS Code the ship was found to
comply with the relevant
provisions of chapter XI-2 of the
Convention and Part A of the ISPS
Code
Intermediate
verification
Signed
..............................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place
.........................................
Date
...........................................
(Seal or stamp of the Authority,
as appropriate)
SCHEDULE IV
(Form A)
(Section 29(4))
ADDITIONAL VERIFICATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION A/19.3.7.2
OF THE ISPS CODE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that at an
additional verification required
by section 19.3.7.2 of Part A of
the ISPS Code the ship was found
to comply with the relevant
provisions of chapter X1-2 of the
Convention and Part A of the ISPS
Code.
Signed......................................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place.................................
Date..................................
(Seal or stamp of the Authority as
appropriate)
SCHEDULE IV
(Form B)
(Section 29(4))
Additional verification
Signed
(Signature of authorised official)
Place......................................
Date
......................................
(Seal or stamp of the authority,
as appropriate)
Additional
verification
Signed .........................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place......................................
Date
......................................
(Seal or stamp of the Authority,
as appropriate)
*
This part of the certificate shall
be adapted by the Authority to
indicate whether it has
established additional
verifications as provided for in
section 19.1.4.
SCHEDULE V
(Section 30(2))
Form of the International Ship
Security Certificate
INTERNATIONAL SHIP SECURITY
CERTIFICATE
(Official Seal)
Certificate Number
Issued under the provision of
INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT
FACILITY SECURITY CODE (ISPS CODE)
Under the authority of the
Government of
___________________________________
by
______________________________________________________________
(persons or organisation
authorised)
Name of ship........................................................................................................................................................
Distinctive number or letters
...............................................................................................................................
Port of registry.....................................................................................................................................................
Type of ship........................................................................................................................................................
Gross tonnage.......................................................................................................................................................
IMO
Number.................................................................................................................................
Name and address of the Company.......................................................................................................................
THIS IS TO CERTIFY
1. That the security system and
any associated security equipment
of the ship has been verified in
accordance with section 19.1 of
Part A of the ISPS Code;
2. That the verification showed
that the security system and any
associated security equipment of
the ship is in all respects
satisfactory and that the ship
complies with the applicable
requirements of chapter XI-2 of
the Convention and Part A of the
ISPS Code;
3. That the ship is provided
with an approved ship security
plan
Date of initial/renewal
verification on which this
certificate is based
........................................
This Certificate is valid until
..........................................................................................
subject to verifications in
accordance with section 19.1.1 of
Part A of the ISPS Code.
Issued at
.....................................................................................
(place of issue of the
Certificate)
Date of issue
..........................................................................
……………………………………..
(Signature of the duly authorised
official
issuing theCertificate)
Seal of issuing Authority, as
appropriate
SCHEDULE VI
Form A
(Section 33(8))
ENDORSEMENT TO EXTEND THE
CERTIFICATE IF VALID FOR LESS THAN
5 YEARS WHERE SECTION A/19.3.3 OF
THE ISPS CODE APPLIES
The ship complies with the
relevant provisions of Part A of
the ISPS Code, and the Certificate
shall, in accordance with section
19.3.3. of Part A of the ISPS
Code, be accepted as valid until
....................................................................
Signed
...........................................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place
..............................................
Date
...............................................
(Seal or stamp of the authority,
as appropriate)
SCHEDULE VI
Form B
(Section 33(8))
ENDORSEMENT TO EXTEND THE VALIDITY
OF THE CERTIFICATE UNTIL REACHING
THE PORT OF VERIFICATION WHERE
SECTION A/19.3. OF THE ISPS CODE
APPLIES OR FOR A PERIOD OF GRACE
WHERE SECTION A/19.3.6 OF THE ISPS
CODE APPLIES
This Certificate shall, in
accordance with section 19.3.5/
19.3.6Delete as appropriate* of
Part A of the ISPS Code, be
accepted as valid until...............................................................................................
Signed.....................................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place.......................................
Date
.......................................
(Seal or stamp of the Authority,
as appropriate)
SCHEDULE VI
ENDORSEMENT FOR ADVANCEMENT TO
EXPIRY DATE WHERE SECTION
A/19.3.7.1 OF THE ISPS CODE
APPLIES
Form C
(Section 33 (8))
In accordance with section
19.3.7.1 or Part A of the ISPS
Code, the new expiry date**is
Signed
..................................
(Signature of authorised official)
Place
......................................
Date........................................
(Seal or stamp of the Authority,
as appropriate)
* Delete as appropriate
*
* In case of completion of this
part of the certificate the expiry
date shown on the front of the
certificate shall also be amended
accordingly.
SCHEDULE VII
(Section 35 (2))
Form of the Interim International
Ship Security Certificate
(Official
seal)
(State)
Certificate No.
Issued under the provisions of the
INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT
FACILITY SECURITY CODE (ISPS CODE)
Under the authority of the
Government of ———————————————————
(name of State)
By
——————————————————————————————————
(persons or organisation
authorised)
Name of ship:
Distinctive number or letters:.............................................................................................
Port of registry:....................................................................................................................
Type of ship:.........................................................................................................................
Gross tonnage:.......................................................................................................................
IMO Number:........................................................................................................................
Name and address of company:...........................................................................................
Is this a subsequent, consecutive
interim certificate? Yes/No*
If Yes, date of issue of initial
interim
certificate...............................................................
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT the
requirements of section A/19.4.2
of the ISPS Code have been
complied with
This Certificate is issued
pursuant to section A/19.4 of the
ISPS Code.
This Certificate is valid until............................................................................................
Issued at.........................................................................................................................
(Place of issue of the
certificate)
Date of issue......................................................................................................................
(Signature of the duly authorised
official issuing the Certificate)
(Seal or stamp of issuing
Authority, as appropriate)
SCHEDULE VIII
(Section 55(3))
Form of a Statement of Compliance
of a Port Facility
(Official
seal)
(State)
Statement Number
Issued under the provisions of
Part B of the
INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT
FACILITY SECURITY CODE (ISPS CODE)
The Government of
—————————————————————————
(name of the State)
Name of the Port Facility
..................................................................................
Address of the Port Facility
...............................................................................
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the
compliance of this port facility
with the provisions of chapter
X1-2 and Part A of the
International Ship and Port
Facility Security Code (ISPS Code)
has been verified and that this
port facility operates in
accordance with the approved port
facility security plan. This plan
has been approved for the
following specific types of
operations, types of ship or
activities or other relevant
information (delete as
appropriate):
Passenger ship
Passenger high speed craft
Cargo high speed craft
Bulk carrier
Oil tanker
Chemical tanker
Gas carrier
Mobile offshore drilling units
Cargo ships other than those
referred to above
This Statement of Compliance is
valid until
..............................................................
subject to verifications (as
indicated overleaf)
Issued
at.............................................................................................................................................
(place of issue of the statement)
Date of issue ………………………………………………….
(Signature of the duly authorised
official issuing the document)
(Seal or stamp of issuing
Authority, as appropriate)
Date of Gazette Notification: 12th
November, 2004. |