Ship Security Alert System

The Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) is part of the ISPS code and is a system that contributes to the
International Maritime Organization's (IMO)'s efforts to strengthen maritime security and suppress acts of
terrorism and piracy against shipping. The system is a joint project between Cospas-Sarsat and the IMO. In case
of attempted piracy or terrorism, the ship's SSAS beacon can be activated, and appropriate law-enforcement or
military forces can be dispatched. An SSAS beacon operates with similar principles to the aircraft transponder
emergency code 7700.
When an SSAS alert is triggered: [1]

the Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) or SAR Points of Contact (SPOCs) for the country code the
beacon is transmitting is notified discreetly
national authorities dispatch appropriate forces to deal with the terrorist or pirate threat

How SSAS works? When the maritime security staffs comprehend probable danger from pirates or terrorists a
Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) alert is triggered. The beacon transmits a specific country code, reacting to
which the Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) or SAR Points of Contact (SPOCs) of that particular region is
notified discreetly. Once receiving the signal the national authorities of the area notified dispatch appropriate
military or law-enforcement forces to deal with the terrorist or pirate menace.
Legislation on Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)

In December 2002, International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted some changes within which Ship
Security Alert System (SSAS), as was determined in Regulation 6. It also required IMO to produce guidance on
the implementation and instructions on the handling of covert alerts from SSAS instrumentation.
The SSAS alerts are to be sent by the security staff, necessarily at routine priority, from the ship to its
Administration directly or other proper recipient designated by the Administration.
These routine priority SSAS alerts might be chosen by Administrations to have from their flag ships addressed
to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres in their own region or to other targets such as ship owners or
managers.
Satellite service of Inmarsat C, mini-C and D+ would help affirm the full accessibility of processing the
messages of Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), while the existing outdated GMDSS would require an update
provided by its manufacturers or agents.
SSAS solutions which are available on the Inmarsat network inevitably render more flexibility in the routing of
SSAS alerts. In accordance with the requirements of the IMO, these alerts could be sent to any destination,
which might be a rescue co-ordination centre, or a national security organisation or the ship owner or any other
third-party organisation but necessarily selected by the flag administration.
The security staff can deliver the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) to fax, email, telex, GSM phone, or even
to other Inmarsat terminals for the sake of ship security complying with the legislation specified in Regulation 6