As a Ship Security Officer (SSO), it is your responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the ship, its crew, and the passengers on board. This can be a challenging role with many responsibilities, which is why certification as an SSO is required by most maritime organizations.
Let’s take a look at some key steps you can take in order to prepare for your ship security officer course.
Know the code inside out:
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code is your main text. You do not need to memorize every line, but you must know where things live. What is in part A? What sits in part B? Which sections apply to your daily work? Read the document with a highlighter in hand. Make your own notes. Rewrite tricky parts in plain words. When the exam asks about declaration of security or ship security levels, you should answer without guessing.
Learn the forms by heart:
Every Ship Security Officer fills out paperwork. The ship security plan refers to specific forms for drills, visitor logs, and screening records. You will be tested on these. More importantly, you will use them at sea. Get comfortable with what each form tracks and why it matters.
Drill your own role:
You have taken part in drills before. Now you must lead them. During certification, you will be asked how you would run a search, handle a stowaway situation, or respond to a security threat. Walk through these scenarios in your head. Talk them out loud. Picture the deck, the crew, the alarm. If you can see it clearly, you can explain it clearly.
Practice reading the plan:
The ship security plan is not a book to shelve. It is a working document. Examiners will ask you to find specific sections quickly. They want to see that you can use the plan under pressure, not recite its title. Open a sample plan and time yourself. Can you locate the bomb threat procedure in under a minute? Can you find the contact list for port authorities? Speed comes from familiarity.
Study the hardware:
Locks, alarms, cameras, and access systems vary from ship to ship. But the principles are the same. Know how a basic door contact works. Understand why lighting matters on deck at night. Be ready to explain the limits of security equipment.