NYK's SSO Course Gets Liberia's OK
September 19, 2003
NYK's ship security officer (SSO) training course obtained certification from the Liberian Government on August 25.
The amended International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, both due to take effect on July 1 next year, vessels traveling internationally to appoint and train persons to take charge of security, to draw up and implement security plans, to install additional security devices and to obtain international ship security certificates.
To fulfill its ship security plans, NYK recognizes the importance of training ship security officers (SSO). Therefore, in June NYK introduced monthly SSO training courses for senior personnel from NYK and its affiliated companies. (The 12-hour course's curriculum follows guidelines set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).)
Some flag countries, including Panama and Liberia, are issuing certificates recognizing SSO training courses that meet the SOLAS and ISPS requirements and these countries are now currently studying a number schemes being developed for training SSOs.
NYK is the first Japanese shipping company to receive an SSO training course certificate from the Liberian Government. It is also preparing to obtain a similar certificate from Panama.
As regards NYK's affiliates abroad, NYK-Filship Management Inc., NYK's ship-manning company in Manila, started an SSO training course in July upon obtaining a certificate from the Panamanian Government.
In addition to launching the above-mentioned SSO training course, NYK has sponsored meetings for shipowners and ship management companies, which are affiliated with NYK, in order to enable not only its owned ships, but also all chartered vessels to meet the requirements of the revised SOLAS Convention. Such meetings have included seminars for company security officers (CSO), held in Tokyo and Imabari in January with a total of 102 persons from 45 firms in attendance, and meetings for explaining ship security assessment (SSA) and ship security plans (SSP), held in Tokyo and Imabari in August, with a total of 82 persons from 46 companies participating.