Vessel Personnel with or without Security Responsibilities Requirements - TC MTSR

Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR) Vessel Personnel with or without Security Responsibilities (VPWSR/VPWoSR) (PDSD/PSA) Requirements

According to the Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR) and the amended STCW 2010, vessel personnel with or without (both) must have the required proficiency in Security duties.

Proficiency in Vessel Personnel with Security Responsibilities (VPWSR) is also known as Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (P D S D), and, Proficiency in Vessel Personnel without Security Responsibilities (VPWoSR) is also known as Proficiency in security awareness (P S A) as per the amended STCW Code.

In a SOLAS ship, a certificate of proficiency as Vessel Personnel with (or without) Security Responsibilities, as the case may be, is required. In a foreign SOLAS ship, a certificate of proficiency of the ship personnel with or without security responsibilities, approved by the state administration, is a compulsory requirement. A member of the vessel personnel with or without security responsibilities on a non-SOLAS ship shall have, by training or job experience, knowledge, and competence relevant to the industry they operate.

To obtain a Canadian STCW Certificate of Proficiency, a person must provide an approved training course certification specifically for the corresponding ship security personnel with or without security responsibilities training as defined in the MTSR; and who will have met TC’s requirements.

Transport Canada Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR) Part 2 – Vessels Sections 213 & 214 as Vessel Personnel with or without Security Responsibilities Requirements

Part 2 - Vessels

Vessel Personnel with Security Responsibilities

MTSR 213

1. A member of the vessel personnel with security responsibilities on a SOLAS ship shall hold
   1. in the case of a SOLAS ship that is entitled to fly the Canadian flag, a certificate of proficiency as a member of the vessel personnel with security responsibilities issued under Part 8; or
   2. in the case of a SOLAS ship that is entitled to fly the flag of a foreign state, a certificate of proficiency as a member of the ship personnel with security responsibilities issued by the contracting government of that state.
2. In circumstances of exceptional necessity, if a member of the vessel personnel with security responsibilities is temporarily unavailable to fulfil his or her security responsibilities on a SOLAS ship, the Administration may permit a member of the vessel personnel without security responsibilities but with a knowledge of the Vessel Security Plan to fulfil those responsibilities until the ship arrives at the next port of call or for a period not exceeding 30 days.
3. A member of the vessel personnel with security responsibilities on a non-SOLAS ship shall have, by training or job experience, knowledge and competence that are relevant to the industry in which the ship operates in any of the following areas that relate to the member’s responsibilities:
   1. current security threats and patterns;
   2. the recognition and detection of weapons, explosives and incendiaries, and other dangerous substances and devices;
   3. the recognition of the characteristics and behavioural patterns of persons who are likely to threaten security;
   4. techniques that could possibly be used to violate security procedures or to circumvent security procedures, equipment or systems;
   5. Crowd Management and control techniques;
   6. security-related communications;
   7. emergency preparedness and response and contingency planning;
   8. the operation, testing, calibration and maintenance of security equipment and systems;
   9. inspection and monitoring techniques;
   10. methods of performing physical searches of persons and goods, including personal effects, baggage, ships’ stores and Cargo;
   11. the relevant provisions of the vessel security plan; and
   12. the meanings and the requirements of the different MARSEC levels.

Vessel Personnel without Security Responsibilities

MTSR 214

1. A member of the vessel personnel without security responsibilities on a SOLAS ship shall hold
   1. in the case of a SOLAS ship that is entitled to fly the Canadian flag, a certificate of proficiency as a member of the vessel personnel without security responsibilities issued under Part 8; or
   2. in the case of a SOLAS ship that is entitled to fly the flag of a foreign state, a certificate of proficiency as a member of the ship personnel without security responsibilities issued by the contracting government of that state.
2. A member of the vessel personnel without security responsibilities on a non-SOLAS ship, and a contractor engaged on the ship, shall receive security orientation that is appropriate to their duties and the amount of time that they have spent on board the ship. The security orientation shall address the following:
   1. the meanings of the different MARSEC levels, the procedures at each level and the emergency procedures and contingency plans;
   2. the recognition and detection of weapons, explosives and incendiaries, and other dangerous substances and devices;
   3. the recognition of the characteristics and behavioural patterns of persons who are likely to threaten security; and
   4. techniques that could possibly be used to violate security procedures or to circumvent security procedures, equipment or systems.

LAST UPDATED ON Jan 16, 2023