The International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code (ISPS Code) represents the culmination of just over a year's intense work by IMO's Maritime Committee and its Maritime Security Working Group since the twenty-second session of the Assembly adopted resolution A.924(22), on the review of measures and procedures to prevent acts of terrorism which threaten the security of passengers and crews and the safety of ships, in November 2001. The ISPS Code was adopted by one of the resolutions that were adopted on 12 December 2002 by the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (London, 9 to 13 December 2002). Another resolution also includes the necessary amendments to chapters V and XI of SOLAS by which compliance with the Code will become mandatory on 1 July 2004, if deemed accepted on 1 January 2004. The existing chapter XI of SOLAS was amended and re-identified as chapter XI-1 and a new chapter XI-2 was adopted on special measures to enhance maritime security.

The ISPS Code and these amendments to SOLAS are set out in this publication, as are other resolutions (relating to the work that will need to be completed before the Code can be implemented in 2004 and the revision of the Code, technical co-operation, and co-operative work with the International Labour Organization and the World Customs Organization) that were adopted by the Conference.

The objectives of this Code are to establish an international framework involving co-operation between Contracting Governments, Government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries to detect/assess security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade; to establish the respective roles and responsibilities of all these parties concerned, at the national and international level, for ensuring maritime security; to ensure the early and efficient collation and exchange of security-related information; to provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedures to react to changing security levels; and to ensure confidence that adequate and proportionate maritime security measures are in place. The objectives are to be achieved by the designation of appropriate officers/personnel on each ship, in each port facility and in each shipping company to prepare and to put into effect the security plans that will be approved for each ship and port facility. Parts A and B of the Code are, respectively, the mandatory requirements regarding the provisions of chapter XI-2 of SOLAS, 1974, as amended, and guidance regarding the provisions of chapter XI-2 of SOLAS, 1974, as amended, and part A of the Code.