Gard Guidance to Masters

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Gard Guidance Masters

2.9.3.3 ACCESS TO THE VESSEL

Access to the vessel should be restricted and controlled as required by the SSP.

Unidentified or unauthorised individuals should be denied access. The local correspondent may be able to assist where such individuals try to obtain access to the ship.

When a pass system is not viable, it may be helpful to keep

a log with name, duties, name and rank of the person visited, time of boarding and disembarking, and

a tally of the persons boarding and leaving.

It should be borne in mind that stowaways attempt to board a vessel not only by the normal access routes but also by

climbing the mooring ropes or anchor chains

coming alongside with boats and entering over the vessel’s sides

hiding inside containerised, palletised and other unitised cargo.

Consequently

a close watch should be maintained at all times

large effective rat-guards should be placed on mooring lines well out of reach of the vessel’s side and jetty

fairleads and hawse pipes should be sealed to prevent access

access doors to the superstructure should be locked and sealed where possible – without compromising safety and evacuation in an emergency

stores and other access doors on deck should be properly locked

the vessel should be brightly lit.

Random checks during loading of palletised or unitised cargo may assist in discovering stowaways.

2.9.3.3 Access to the vessel