New Norwegian ISPS regulations from 9th of April, 2010
Regulations for protection of ports and port terminals against terrorist acts, etc. - Information about the alteration of the minimum frequency of scanning and checking of persons, goods vehicles and ships supplies to the various security levels.


Coastal Director stipulated in the note of 19 April 2005 a series of minimum requirements for safety measures at Norwegian ISPS port terminals. Most of these minimum requirements are later incorporated in the current regulations on protection of ports and port terminals against terrorist actions, etc.. of 3 July 2007 (the port security regulations). According to the Port Security Regulations § 25 first paragraph, all persons, vehicles or goods and ship supplies to enter the secure area will be subject crawling and control. Crawl means manually, electronically or otherwise to reveal the actual content of what is controlled.

According to § 25 the last paragraph of the NCA headquarters fix minimum rates of such scans for the different security levels. These minimum requirements have so far also been presented by the "Coastal Directorate minimum safeguards at Norwegian ISPS port terminals" of 19 April 2005, paragraph 4 On the security level 1 was the minimum requirement for such a frequency set at 5%, and the frequency of such checks should be documented over time. On the security level 2 and 3, this rate is set to 20% and 100%. Norwegian Coastal Administration has found that this specific percentage requirement is difficult to implement in practice and on a general basis, including because there are large variations between the port terminal's operational pattern and traffic structure, etc.

Norwegian Coastal Administration has therefore decided to change this minimum requirement. On this basis, informed it is hereby given that the Norwegian Coastal Administration headquarters has established the following new minimum requirements to crawl on the different security levels: HEADQUARTERS 2 Page 2 All persons, vehicles, goods and ships supplies to enter the port terminal or the port may be subject to scanning. Number of completed crawls will be logged. On the security level 1, 2 and 3 will be carried out random checks of the mentioned objects. The frequency of such random checks should be adapted to any time the current threat picture and the terminal's operation. On the security level 1, 2 and 3, the scanning is always performed if there is reason to believe that someone will try to carry out acts of terrorism or other intentional criminal acts that may damage the port, the port terminal or vessel calling at this.

In the latter cases, the pre-trusted persons, vehicles, goods and ships supplies could also be subject to crawl on all security levels. The new provision has thus still a requirement that it be carried out random checks (ie, frequency greater than zero), but the requirement for specific percentage is removed. This means that the terminal itself needs to assess the frequency in the light of the factors mentioned in the provision. The amendments came into force with effect from 9 April, 2010.