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CHAPTER 8 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.
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