Marine Facility Security Officer (MFSO/PFSO) Requirements - Transport Canada MTSR

Marine Facility Security Officer (MFSO/PFSO) Requirements According to Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR)

Marine Facility Security Officers (MFSO), also known as Port Facility Security Officers (PFSO) are officers appointed by a Marine Facility such as a port and terminals and are fully conversant with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS ) Code and Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR) requirements.

The marine facility security will be looked after by a qualified and designated Marine Facility Security Officer (MFSO/PFSO) or their deputy. To achieve the MFSO/PFSO certification, they undergo formal training by a Transport Canada-approved training organization. It’s not just the MFSOs that will require training - all the marine facility or port staff requires training to meet the requirements of Transport Canada and the MTSRs, whether they have security responsibilities or not.

Marine Facility Security Officers (MFSOs) are responsible for Marine Facility Security Plans upkeep and manage and control the security plans for/on behalf of each marine terminal facility operator or Port. Marine Facilities Security Officer (MFSO) will initiate the appropriate security measures under Transport Canada’s Marine Transportation Security Act and Regulations.

Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR) Part 3 - Marine Facilities Sections 304, 305 & 306 Marine Facility Security Officer Requirements

Part 3 - Marine Facilities

Marine Facility Security Officer

MTSR 304 - General

1.  A marine facility security officer may
   1. act in that capacity for more than one marine facility if they are able to fulfil the responsibilities for each marine facility;
   2. have other responsibilities within the marine facility operator’s organization if they are able to fulfil the responsibilities of marine facility security officer; and
   3. delegate tasks required by this Part.
2. A marine facility security officer remains responsible for the performance of the tasks they delegate.

MTSR 305 - Marine Facility Security Officer Qualifications

A marine facility security officer shall have, by training or job experience, knowledge and competence that is relevant to the industry in which the marine facility operates and is in the following areas:

1. the administrative and organizational structure for security at the marine facility;
2. the operations and operating conditions of the marine facility, vessels and if applicable, port;
3. the security procedures of the marine facility, vessels and, if applicable, port, including the meaning and the requirements of the different MARSEC levels;
4. emergency preparedness and response and contingency planning;
5. security equipment and systems and their operational limitations;
6. methods of conducting audits and inspections;
7. access control and monitoring techniques;
8. methods of conducting on-site surveys and marine facility security assessments;
9. methods of conducting physical searches and non-intrusive inspections;
10. conducting and assessing security drills and exercises, including exercises with vessels;
11. techniques for security training and education;
12. relevant international conventions, codes, standards and recommendations;
13. relevant legislation, regulations and security measures, rules and procedures;
14. the responsibilities and functions of municipal, provincial and federal law enforcement agencies;
15. methods of handling security-sensitive information and security-related communications;
16. current security threats and patterns;
17. the recognition and detection of weapons, explosives and incendiaries and other dangerous substances and devices;
18. the recognition of the characteristics and behavioural patterns of persons who are likely to threaten security;
19. techniques that might be used to violate security procedures or to circumvent security procedures, equipment or systems;
20. Crowd Management and control techniques; and
21. the operation, testing, calibration and maintenance of security equipment and systems.

MTSR 306 - Marine Facility Security Officer Responsibilities

A marine facility security officer shall

1. conduct inspections of the marine facility at the rate specified in the marine facility security plan to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Part;
2. submit a marine facility security plan and any amendment to the Minister for approval;
3. implement and maintain the approved marine facility security plan, coordinating it when necessary with the security officer of interfacing vessels and the port security officer;
4. conduct audits of the marine facility security plan in accordance with this Part;
5. as soon as practicable after a deficiency in the marine facility security plan is identified, implement the corrective action that is required to correct the deficiency until the plan is amended;
6. submit to the Minister amendments to the marine facility security plan to correct any deficiencies;
7. implement the approved amendments in the marine facility security plan;
8. ensure security awareness and vigilance at the marine facility, including awareness of changes in the MARSEC level and other circumstances that might affect work conditions at the marine facility;
9. ensure that appropriate security training or orientation is provided to personnel at the marine facility in accordance with this Part;
10. report security threats and security incidents to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, the Minister and, if applicable, the port administration, as soon as possible after they occur so that an investigation can be conducted;
11. report security breaches to the Minister and, if applicable, the port administration, as soon as possible after they occur;
12. ensure that there is effective communication and cooperation between the marine facility and the vessels with which it interfaces;
13. ensure that security equipment is operated, tested, calibrated and maintained in compliance with the marine facility security plan;
14. record and report the implementation of security procedures, after a change in the MARSEC level, to the Minister, to the operator of any vessel with which it is interfacing or about to interface and to the operator of any marine facility or port administration affected by the change;
15. keep a copy of the marine facility security assessment and plan readily accessible; and
16. ensure that security drills and exercises are conducted.

LAST UPDATED ON Jan 16, 2023