Ship Security Officer for Beginners – Exam Preparation

Description

Welcome to the Ship Security Officer Course! In this course, we will cover everything you need to know to perform duties of a Ship Security Officer (SSO).

As an SSO, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of your ship, crew, and cargo. You will be responsible for identifying and assessing security risks, developing and implementing security plans and procedures, and coordinating with other stakeholders to ensure effective security measures are in place.

Throughout this course, you will learn about the international regulations and guidelines that govern ship security, including the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. You will also learn about the various security threats that ships may face, such as piracy, robbery, and smuggling.

We will explore the key elements of a ship security plan, including risk assessments, security drills, and security equipment. You will learn how to conduct security inspections and audits, as well as how to respond to security incidents and emergencies.

By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills to perform the duties of a Ship Security Officer and help ensure the safety and security of your vessel, crew, and cargo.

Enroll now and take the first step towards a career in maritime security.

In short, what is this course about?

In short, this is beginner level, mostly text-based course (it has 30 minutes of mandatory video content which you can skip/mark as watched), in particular:

- It’s a downable base of minimum info SSO needs to know (for which you never had time or didn’t want to search for),

- It’s a list of Regulations that SSO needs to follow (with Amendments!),

- It’s a preparation for a SSO exam (SSO certification).

Who is the SSO course intended for?

The Ship Security Officer Course is typically intended for individuals who are or will be serving as Ship Security Officers (SSOs) or those who are involved in the maritime security industry. This includes:

- crew members (first officer, second officer, third officer, etc.),

- security personnel (security guards),

- management personnel, who are responsible for ensuring the security of ships, ports, and other maritime facilities.

The course is also beneficial for those who work in related industries such as

- logistics,

- shipping,

- transportation,

as well as

- regulatory and law enforcement agencies,

that deal with maritime security.

It is important to note that the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code requires all ships to have at least one designated Ship Security Officer who has completed adequate training. Therefore, if you are interested in a career in maritime security, or if you are currently working in the maritime industry and want to advance your skills and knowledge, then the Ship Security Officer Course is a must for you.

Who is the SSO course NOT intended for?

- People who don’t have an interest in maritime industry / maritime security / maritime security training;

- People who prefer “nice and shine” over gist;

- People who expect to take course without any effort;

- People who have enough money and want to take both course and exam in one place;

- People who search for an accredited institution.

What is this course based on?

This course is based on STCW Code Table A-VI/5 where are listed specifications of minimum standard of competence for SSO.

What are required competences for SSO (your future competences)?

Required competencies (and learning objectives too) for SSO are to:

- Maintain and supervise the implementation of a ship security plan;

- Assess security risk, threat, and vulnerability;

- Undertake regular inspections of the ship to ensure that appropriate security measures are implemented and maintained;

- Ensure that security equipment and systems, if any, are properly operated, tested and calibrated;

- Encourage security awareness and vigilance.

And by the end of this course you will have knowledge about all of them.

How this course works?

BEGINNING PART

Introductory section is about understanding origins and connections (IMO, SOLAS, ISPS, CSO…).

MIDDLE PART

As per STCW Code Table A-VI/5 (all SSO courses must follow this code!) there are specifications of minimum standard of competence for Ship Security Officer (SSO).

There are 5 competences.

For example (the first one): Maintain and supervise the implementation of a ship security plan.

Further, each competence addresses what knowledge SSO must have.

For example (the first one): Knowledge of international maritime security policy and responsibilities of Governments, companies and designated persons, including elements that may relate to piracy and armed robbery.

What I do?

I answer each part of “knowledge” sections (29 of them) and provide you with answers and a list of guidance documents (if appropriate). It’s all text which I summarized for you (it’s about 60 pages / 24000 words / approximately 80 minutes to read, and believe me, it’s the bare and obligatory minimum), and you have to study it. At your own pace.

For example:

International maritime security policy is…

Responsibilities of Governments are…

Responsibilities of companies are…

Responsibilities of designated persons are…

Elements that may relate to piracy and armed robbery are…

A list of guidance documents which are relevant to __________:

END PART

Recapitulation + test + some notes from my experience, which I found important to mention.

What is your job?

To enrol this course and enjoy journey.

Welcome!

Is any previous knowledge/experience in maritime security/industry important?

No. But it would be nice to have.

Actually, Crew members and Management personnel are the ones who are already in maritime industry and they will enhance its knowledge mostly about maritime security.

Other personnel such as Security personnel will enhance its knowledge mostly about maritime industry.

Why should you take this course and not another one?

This is the first and only course on this and other similar platforms. Moreover, take a look at price ranges.

How much does the SSO course cost?

The cost of a Ship Security Officer (SSO) course and exam can vary depending on several factors, including the training provider, location, course duration, and course format (online or in-person).

However, here are some general price ranges for SSO courses and exams:

SSO Course:

• Online SSO courses can range from $200 to $600 USD.

• In-person SSO courses can range from $700 to $1500 USD.

SSO Exam:

• The cost of the SSO exam varies depending on the administering organization. For example, the cost of the SSO exam administered by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is $95 USD, while the cost of the SSO exam administered by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the United Kingdom is £185 GBP (approximately $256 USD).

It's important to note that these are general price ranges, and the cost may differ significantly depending on the provider and the country in which the training is being conducted.

In conclusion, if you take this course, and after it just take an exam with an approved organization, you could make savings.

TIP:

If those are possible keywords you were searching for:

• SSO certification

• Ship Security Officer training

• Maritime security course

• Maritime security training

• Ship security plan development

• ISPS Code training

• International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code

• Security drills for ships

• Security risk assessment for ships

• Emergency response training for ships

• Piracy prevention for ships

• Piracy in maritime industry

• Cargo security training for ships

• Crew security training for ships

• Vessel security officer training

• Ship security audit

• Ship Security Plan (SSP)

than, you are on a right place.

About Instructor

I am Aleksandar Marić and will guide you throughout this course.

I am an ex Military Officer with background in Security, Logistics and Supply Chain who also attended SSO Course and worked as a Security Personnel on a ship.

My job during career was to deal both with safety and security, and two major positions in my career were a Training Manager and a Logistics and Supply Chain Manager. As I am interested in Security within Supply Chain, particularly container transport, I had to start doing things Internationally. So, I rolled-over my sleeves and went to Germany where I gained my first experience in container transport within trucking industry. After that, I took SSO course too (and many others) and went on board a container ship. I got a totally new point of view and extended my knowledge, this time with maritime security.

Now, when I take a look back, I see again that knowledge and following of Regulations and Procedures is what will save people in most cases.

After experiencing in practice what I really wanted to understand and know, and what is a need for SSO, I decided to offer you a course which will give you all the relevant information SSO needs to know in one place.

NOTES:

I am not allowed to provide you with Regulations mentioned in the course, as I am not accredited organization, but you can easily find them on the Internet. Almost all guidance documents and regulations you can find on IMO site (just enter the name I provided for you).

Download a text provided and write notes directly on it during the course. This way you can underline what is really important to you, or just emphasise some parts.

DISCLAIMER:

Provider of this course is not responsible for any misinformation or a lack of information provided. It is a student’s obligation to check for any new/updated information.

All guidance lists of regulations provided in this course are the minimum. Other guidance regulations may be asked for implementation too. Lists provided are not exhaustive lists and there may be other amendments that are not included. For further development of your skills you are expected to read regulations.

There are some guidance and procedures which are not prepared by IMO yet, and you are expected to use your knowledge, understanding and common sense in order to perform the duty of a SSO.

Materials provided are for personal use only. You are not allowed to copy or distribute any material provided to third parties.

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