NYK Ship Awarded First ISSC Certificate of ISPS Code for Japanese Carrier
October 20, 2003
The NYK-managed, Bahamian-registered LNG carrier Pacific Notus on October 17, obtained an International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) indicating its compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The ISPS Code, an amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), requires all cargo vessels of 500 gross tons or larger engaged in international trade to acquire an ISSC by July 1, 2004. The certificate awarded to Pacific Notus is the first to be obtained by a Japanese carrier.
The acquisition of the ISSC was preceded by the strict examination of whether the prescribed security requirements were being fulfilled. The requirements included the nomination of a Company Security Officer (CSO) and a Ship Security Officer (SSO), and the certification of a Ship Security Plan (SSP). An inspection of the plan's implementation aboard the vessel was conducted by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, a certification agent approved by the Government of the Bahamas.
NYK said the ISSC-related know-how obtained in the process of acquiring the certificate for the LNG carrier will prove instrumental in smoothly obtaining the same certificates for all NYK-managed vessels.
- Note: LNG Carrier Pacific Notus
- The Pacific Notus (Bahamian registry) is operated by Pacific LNG Yuso Ltd. which manages the transport of liquefied natural gas for The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated from Bintulu, Malaysia, to Japan. She was commissioned on September 30 this year.