GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

ISPS Code

The ISPS Code – International Ship and Port Facility Security Code – comes into play the moment an ocean-going vessel calls at a port or a port facility serves international shipping.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Security/Pages/SOLAS-XI-2%20ISPS%20Code.aspx

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Definition & Explanation

The ISPS Code – International Ship and Port Facility Security Code – comes into play the moment an ocean-going vessel calls at a port or a port facility serves international shipping. Adopted by the IMO and entering into force in 2004 as an amendment to the SOLAS Convention, it sets mandatory security obligations for both shipowners and port operators. These include drafting and maintaining approved security plans, appointing a Ship Security Officer (SSO) on board and a Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) ashore, and conducting systematic security risk assessments. Three escalating Security Levels (1–3) allow measures to be calibrated to the prevailing threat environment. The ISPS Code operates at the international level and is binding on all SOLAS contracting states, independent of any additional national port security legislation.

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ISPS Code

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