Ship Security Plan (SSP) Approval

USG group has been named the Recognized Security Organization (RSO) by the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) for approval of Ship Security Plan.

The following is a detailed list of the approval stages your SSP Plan will go through with USG :-

Pre-Application Stage

A. Ship owners or Company Security Officer (CSO) will choose or hire a company or any other qualified individual, to manage and carry out the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) and write the Ship Security Plan.

B. The Company Security Officer (CSO) will use SSA/SSP format to verify that the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) and Ship Security Plan (SSP) meet the requirements of SOLAS Annex XI-2 and part A of the international ship and port facility security (ISPS) code, including guidance from part B.

C. Company Security Officer (CSO) may use any SSA/SSP format issued by classification society.

D. Company Security Officer (CSO) will download the USG checklist to verify that the ship security plan is in accordance with the checklist.
Registration

E. The company Security Officer (CSO) will be required to register his company as an active participant on the USG secure website. Registration process is free of charge. For registration click here.

F. When registration is completed, the Company Security Officer (CSO) will receive via e-mail an active User ID and password.
Form of transferring Ship Security plan for USG's evaluation

USG clients can transfer the Ship Security Plan (SSP) for evaluation; attach the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) and the check list in the following ways:

Option A - Transferring the hard copy of Ship's Security Plan (SSP) and the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) along with the check list via secure mail to USG's offices in London, U.K.

Clients who choose the first option (Option A) – Forwarding a hard copy of the Ship security plan, will be required to affix hard copies of the Ship Security Assessment and the check list with an additional copy, on a disk, of the SSP/SSA and the check list.

Our Mail Address is :-

Universe Security Group Ltd
8-10, Grosvenor Gardens
London, SW1W ODH
United- Kingdom

After transferring the files, the clients will notifiy USG via e-mail that all the files were sent with a secure mail and emphasis on shipment's details, vessel's name and IMO number.

Option B - Entering USG's secure web site and forwarding the files on a secure internet format (SSL) as it appears on the first page.
Clients who choose the second option (Option B) - Forwarding the Ship Security Plan (SSP) via USG's secure web site, should follow the guidelines below, (G to K) titled "Uploading of Ship Security Plan"

NB: Please note for both Options A or B :-

Please also add to your files and submit to USG a copy of the CSO ISPS Code course certificate or the relevant consultants background.

Please also add to the SSP file the GA of the vessel with the relevant security markings

Uploading of Ship Security Plan

G. The Company Security Officer (CSO) will upload the company's ship SSA/ SSP to USG Group's secure website, using the selected User ID.

H. The uploaded file should be either a single Adobe PDF file or a single ZIP file containing the SSA, SSP and USG checklist.

I. The above file shall be named by the ship name, and IMO number.

J. USG Group will acknowledge receipt of the PDF file or single ZIP file by e-mail. USG group will determine the appropriate fee based on the ship's gross tonnage, and submit an invoice to the CSO.

K. The Company Security Officer (CSO) will arrange payment to USG Group for the SSP approval application fee in advance by standard wire transfer or bank draft. The ship's name and invoice number shall be mentioned when conducting payment.

Ship Security Plan Review for Approval Stage

L. Upon receiving payment, USG Group will review the SSP for compliance with ISPS code, based on the checklist.

M. USG will accept or reject the SSP within 10 working days following receipt of payment ,or the acceptance the hard copy's of the SSP,SSA and CHECK LIST , the latest among them , the Company Security Officer (CSO) will be notified by USG via the e-mail.

Ship Security Plan Approval Certificate

N. If the submitted SSP meets all mandatory requirements provided by SOLAS Annex XI-2 and part A of the International Ship and port Facility Security code (ISPS) and guidance from part B of the ISPS code, USG Group will submit a Ship Security Plan approval certification to the CSO using the data submitted during the registration procedure described in step D above.

O. The Company Security Officer (CSO) will present the certificate along with the SSP for immediate implementation onboard the ship.

P. USG Group will safe-keep the processed SSP with remarks for use by the AMP as deemed necessary.

Ship Security Plan Rejection Stage

Q. If the submitted SSP does not comply with the ISPS code, it will be denied acceptance and the Company Security Officer will be notified via e-mail.

R. The procedure for re-submitting a declined SSP will require a new application for approval, in addition, it will be subject to a re-submittal fee, and will require another upload of the revised SSA, SSP and checklist

S. For re-submission of SSP, the file shall be named with ship's name, IMO number, and upload number.
eg.Mino-IMO6789—2 (The number 2 signifies that this is the second upload for the same ship.)

International Ship Security Certificate Stage

T. After implementation of the approved Ship Security Plan onboard the ship, the CSO will arrange for the initial verification of the ship.

U. The verifying Recognized Security Organization (RSO)will, after completing the verification, then submit a report to the Panama Maritime Authority. The Panama Maritime Authority will then issue an international ship security certification (ISSC) to the vessel.