Under section 9. 8 of the ISPS Code, ship security plans are not subject to inspection by officers duly authorized by a Contracting Government to carry out control and compliance measures in accordance with regulation XI-2/9, except in circumstances specified in section 9. 8.1. Section 9.8.1 provides that if the officers duly authorized by a Contracting Government have clear grounds to believe that the ship is not in compliance with the requirements of SOLAS chapter XI-2 or part A of the ISPS Code, and the only means to verify or rectify the non-compliance is to review the relevant requirements of the ship security plan, limited access to the specific sections of the plan relating to the non-compliance is exceptionally allowed, but only with the consent of the Contracting Government of, or the master of, the ship concerned. Nevertheless, the provisions in the plan relating to section 9. 4 subsections. 2,. 4,. 5,. 7,.15, . 17 and. 18 of Part A of the Code are considered as confidential information, and cannot be subject to inspection unless otherwise agreed by the Contracting Governments concerned. (ISPS Code, 9. 8. 1)
Are ship security plans subject to inspection by Port State Control Officers?
