The Ships Security Officer Course (The SSO Course) came into existence as a result of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (The ISPS Code). This maritime Code is for the detection and assessment of threats and the taking of preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade. The Code stipulates that every ship is to have a Ship Security Officer, and that he or she must receive training in their duties. This is achieved by means of a SSO Course, normally conducted by a Private Maritime Security Company or PMSC.
Part B of the ISPS Code – the guidance rather than the mandatory regulations which are found in Part A – describes the level of knowledge required of a Ship Security Officer. Several recognised maritime organisations – such as the International Chamber of Shipping and the United Nations IMO have produced widely accepted model SSO Courses based on Part B of the Code. Many training providers have used these model courses to construct an SSO Course which they then market as having the IMO or ICoC stamp of approval. Other PMSCs have designed their own SSO Courses and had these subsequently accredited by a Classification Society or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. IMSA Ltd has chosen to go this route although it has also written bespoke SSO Courses according with the model course formats for particular clients. IMSA Ltd is unique in offering a further adjunct to the SSO Course in providing within the same number of days, a module addressing the added security requirements for a ship going into piracy-prone waters. This has been marketed as the SSO Course Plus and is particularly useful for those attending the course who are not from a seafaring background.
SSO Course Prices
SSO Courses start from only £395 + VAT
View IMSA Ltd’s Current Scheduled Course Dates:: SSO Courses »
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Paul Moynan
The SSO Course itself as provided by most trainers is scheduled to last for 3 days. IMSA Ltd’s SSO Course Plus conforms to this and is a useful mixture of lectures, role play and ship visits. Courses are run regularly in Poole at IMSA’s headquarters, but depending on the client’s requirements, a trainer can be sent anywhere in the world to conduct the same SSO Course, using the client’s training facilities. There is an examination at the end of the course which candidates must pass before being awarded an internationally recognised certificate, duly certificated by a recognising authority.
Despite the requirement for a SSO Course to be formally recognised and in some way accredited, the quality of course provided varies from PMSC to PMSC and the prospective client for a SSO Course is well advised to shop around before deciding where to spend his money. The questions to ask are first – “What sort of people are teaching the course and what are their qualifications?”; second – “Which body is accrediting this SSO Course?”; and third – “Do I know anybody who has done this particular SSO Course?” Personal experience of a course and a good recommendation are strong indicators that the PMSC knows what he is doing in offering such a SSO Course.
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