Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations

MARITIME TRANSPORT AND OFFSHORE FACILITIES SECURITY REGULATIONS 2003 - REG 1.20

         (1)   Before requesting the Secretary to approve a maritime security plan, a port operator for a security regulated port must designate, in writing, a person as security officer ( port security officer or PSO ).

         (2)   A PSO may be designated by name or by reference to a position. 

         (3)   The duties and responsibilities of a PSO include:

                (a)    conducting an initial security survey of the port and facilitating the completion of the security assessment for the port operator's maritime security plan; and

               (b)    ensuring the development and maintenance of the maritime security plan for the port operator; and

                (c)    implementing the maritime security plan; and

               (d)    undertaking regular security inspections of the port to ensure the effectiveness and adequacy of security measures; and

                (e)    facilitating security plan reviews; and

                (f)    recommending and incorporating modifications to the maritime security plan in order to:

                          (i)    correct deficiencies in the plan; or

                         (ii)    update the plan to take into account changes to the port; and

                (g)    enhancing security awareness and vigilance of port personnel; and

                (h)    ensuring that standards for personnel with, or who have been assigned, security duties and responsibilities are met and that adequate training is provided to such personnel; and

                 (i)    reporting to the relevant authorities, and maintaining records of, occurrences which threaten the security of the port; and

                (j)    liaising with ship, port service provider and port facility security officers; and

               (k)    coordinating with security, police, fire, ambulance, medical, search and rescue services, as appropriate; and

                 (l)    ensuring that security equipment is properly operated, inspected, tested, calibrated and maintained; and

               (m)    when requested by an SSO, assisting in confirming the identity of persons intending to board a ship; and

                (n)    providing advice to the Secretary on the operational and safety aspects of the implementation of security and control directions; and

               (o)    communicating and coordinating the implementation of security and control directions.

         (4)   A port operator must ensure that a PSO:

                (a)    has the knowledge and ability to perform the duties of a PSO; and

               (b)    is given the training set out in the maritime security plan for the port operator; and

                (c)    is a suitable person to access and handle security information; and

               (d)    has the authority to act on instructions received from the Secretary.