Your examiner asks: "What are the responsibilities of the Ship Security Officer (SSO), and how does the SSO differ from the Company Security Officer (CSO)?" Answer at OOW level.

A. The SSO is a ship-based officer responsible for implementing the Ship Security Plan (SSP), conducting security drills, maintaining security records, and reporting security incidents to the CSO and master. The CSO is shore-based, responsible for the SSP itself, ensuring the Ship Security Assessment is carried out, and liaising with Port Facility Security Officers. The OOW may be designated SSO.

B. The SSO and the CSO are the same person. On smaller vessels, the master takes both roles simultaneously and reports to the flag state monthly.

C. The SSO is responsible for port security and only operates in port. The CSO is the on-board representative responsible for security at sea.

D. The CSO is the master and the SSO is a shore-based company representative. This arrangement is required under SOLAS Chapter XI-2.

A. The International Safety Management Code is a mandatory international standard for the safe management and operation of ships. It is given mandatory effect by SOLAS Chapter IX, which requires companies and ships of 500 GT and above on international voyages to hold a Document of Compliance (DOC) and Safety Management Certificate (SMC).

B. The ISM Code is a voluntary industry guideline published by the ICS that sets out best practice for ship safety management. Compliance is required for ships over 3,000 GT only.

C. The ISM Code is an MCA statutory requirement published under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. It applies to all UK-flagged vessels regardless of size.

D. The ISM Code is mandatory under MARPOL Annex VI for vessels in emission control areas and requires a Safety Management System to be in place covering pollution prevention.

A. The Document of Compliance (DOC) is issued to the company by the flag state or a recognised organisation on its behalf, confirming the company's SMS meets ISM Code requirements. The Safety Management Certificate (SMC) is issued to each individual ship, confirming the ship's SMS operates in conformity with the approved DOC.

B. The DOC is issued to the master personally confirming the master is competent to manage the ship's SMS. The SMC is issued to the company for all its ships collectively.

C. Both the DOC and the SMC are issued to the ship by the port state control authority after a PSC inspection. They are valid for the port in which the inspection took place.

D. The DOC covers environmental management under MARPOL and the SMC covers safety management under SOLAS. Both are issued to the ship owner.