Which role is responsible for implementing, maintaining, and auditing the Ship Security Plan and coordinating security measures on board?

• A. Ship Security Officer (SSO)
• B. Master
• C. Chief Engineer
• D. Port State Control Officer

Answer: (A)

The on-board role that implements, maintains, and audits the Ship Security Plan and coordinates security measures is the Ship Security Officer. Under the ISPS Code, the SSO is the designated person responsible for ensuring the ship’s security plan is properly implemented, kept up to date, and regularly audited or tested through drills and exercises. The SSO coordinates security measures across the crew, interfaces with port and company security authorities, and ensures access control, screening, vessel security activities, and incident reporting are carried out on board. The Master remains in command and is ultimately responsible for overall safety and compliance, but the day-to-day management of the security plan falls to the SSO. The Chief Engineer focuses on propulsion and machinery safety, not security planning, while a Port State Control Officer is an external inspector who evaluates compliance rather than managing the ship’s security on a day-to-day basis.