SSO Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When activating the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), what information is transmitted to authorities?
- A distress signal with cargo manifest details
- A covert alert identifying the ship's identity and position without alarming the perpetrators (Correct answer)
- An audible alarm on the bridge and an AIS position broadcast
- A full voice transmission of the incident to the nearest MRCC
Correct answer: A covert alert identifying the ship's identity and position without alarming the perpetrators
The SSAS sends a silent, covert alert with ship identity and GPS position to the designated authority, deliberately avoiding any onboard alarm.
Question 2: An SSO receives intelligence that the vessel will transit a high-risk piracy area. Which combination of preventive measures is considered best practice per BMP5 guidelines?
- Increase speed, darken the ship, and post armed guards on all decks
- Register with UKMTO, implement razor wire barriers, deploy fire hoses as water curtains, and conduct watchkeeping drills (Correct answer)
- Anchor in international waters until the threat level decreases
- Transfer all valuables to a secure lifeboat for rapid evacuation
Correct answer: Register with UKMTO, implement razor wire barriers, deploy fire hoses as water curtains, and conduct watchkeeping drills
BMP5 recommends UKMTO registration, physical hardening measures, and crew drills as layered defensive measures in high-risk areas.
Question 3: After a security breach in port, the SSO must compile an incident report. Which element is NOT typically required in a formal security incident report?
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Names and statements of witnesses
- Personal credit history of the suspected perpetrator (Correct answer)
- Description of actions taken and their outcomes
Correct answer: Personal credit history of the suspected perpetrator
Incident reports require factual operational details; personal financial background of suspects is outside the SSO's reporting scope and jurisdiction.
Question 4: A fire breaks out simultaneously with a security breach aboard a vessel. How should the SSO prioritize these concurrent emergencies?
- Always address the security breach first to prevent escalation
- Address the fire as the immediate life-safety threat while delegating security containment to designated crew (Correct answer)
- Ignore the fire until the security situation is resolved
- Evacuate all crew immediately regardless of the security situation
Correct answer: Address the fire as the immediate life-safety threat while delegating security containment to designated crew
Life-safety emergencies such as fire take precedence, but the SSO must simultaneously maintain security protocols by delegating responsibilities within the Ship Security Plan.
Question 5: What is the purpose of 'Declaration of Security' (DoS) between a ship and a port facility?
- A customs document declaring the ship's cargo value
- A mutual agreement that identifies the security measures each party will implement during their interface (Correct answer)
- A warrant authorizing port state control officers to inspect the vessel
- An insurance declaration required before entering a restricted port
Correct answer: A mutual agreement that identifies the security measures each party will implement during their interface
The DoS formally records the agreed security responsibilities between the ship and port facility when both parties identify a need for one.
Question 6: During a man-overboard emergency that is later determined to have security implications, what additional responsibility does the SSO assume beyond normal MOB procedures?
- Canceling all shore leave for the duration of the voyage
- Preserving the scene, documenting evidence, and assessing whether the incident was intentional or coerced (Correct answer)
- Immediately altering the ship's course to avoid the incident location
- Transferring command authority to the Company Security Officer
Correct answer: Preserving the scene, documenting evidence, and assessing whether the incident was intentional or coerced
When a MOB has security implications, the SSO must treat it as a potential crime scene, preserving evidence and determining whether criminal or coercive factors are involved.
Question 7: Which organization maintains the Ship Security Certificate and International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) records for US-flagged vessels?
- Port State Control officers at each port of call
- The United States Coast Guard (USCG) (Correct answer)
- The International Maritime Organization Secretariat
- The vessel's P&I Club
Correct answer: The United States Coast Guard (USCG)
For US-flagged vessels, the USCG is the recognized security organization responsible for verifying compliance and maintaining ISSC records.
SSO Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response 3
When activating the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), what information is transmitted to authorities?