10 April 2008

UK – Pre-Arrival Notification Procedures

The UK Department for Transport have issued Pre-Arrival

Notification Procedures for ships intending to enter UK ports. The
procedures, which focus on communications between the ship and
the port facility, are intended to comply with both IMO and EU
requirements. Split into two stages, stage one deals with pre-arrival
notification requirements and stage two outlines the Port Facility
Security Officer (PFSO) procedures.

Pre-Arrival Notification Form

Completed 24 hours before arrival this form should be made

available either through the vessels agent to the PFSO, or directly
from the vessel's Ship Security Officer (SSO). Ships that do not
provide this information will not be allowed entry to the port.

Click here for a Pre-Arrival Notification Form

PFSO Procedures

The PFSO will use the answers provided by the vessel to determine
if routine entry will be allowed or if additional security measures are
required. This decision is assisted by referring to a decision flow
chart, accessed by following the link below.

Click here for the PFSO decision making flowchart

If the vessel does not have an International Ship Security Certificate

(ISSC), is 500gt or above and the flag State is not a signatory to
the SOLAS Convention, PFSO’s are required to contact Coastguard
officials for further advice.

Ships that declare themselves exempt from ISPS requirements on

the grounds of Tonnage 69 arrangements will still have to provide
pre-arrival information and a Declaration of Security (DoS).

Declaration of Security

A Declaration of Security (DoS) is a written agreement between a

ship and a port facility that confirms the security responsibilities of
each party during the ship/port interface.

A DoS is initiated when;

 A vessel’s flag State is not a signatory to SOLAS

  A vessel is not compliant with the ISPS Code but has passed a
UK Government risk assessment
 Either the vessel or port are operating at security level three
 Following a security incident or threat to the port facility or
vessel
 When requested to do so by TRANSEC or the Maritime
Coastguard Agency (MCA)
 At the discretion of the PFSO

The SSO may request a DoS when;

 The ship is operating at a higher level of security than the

port
 When the ship enters a port that does not have a PFSO/PFSP

Failure to co-operate with DoS requests may result in refusal of

entry to the port and potential consequences at subsequent ports of
call.

Click here for the DoS form

Click here for the full DfT Pre-Arrival Notification Procedures

Click here for the Dft website