What is a port facility security assessment (PFSA) and who will do it?
The PFSA process is outlined in the ISPS Code as a process by which competent persons identify key assets within a port facility, assess the threats to these assets and identify security measures that can be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of these assets. In the UK , PFSAs will be carried out by TRANSEC Maritime Inspectors and will be undertaken in two steps. The first step will be to use the information obtained from the Port Security Questionnaire, along with information on threat, to group ports into broad security categories. Those categories will be used to prioritise ports to ensure that high priority ports, i.e. those that are deemed to be most at risk, are dealt with first. The second step will involve visits to ports by the Maritime Inspectors. The information obtained from the Annex to the Port Security Questionnaire will be used to gain a picture of the levels of existing security provision in ports and therefore inform these visits. During the visits the inspectors
