Port Security Risk Assessment (PSRA)

The Port Security Risk Assessment (PSRA) is a risk assessment report that identifies threats and risks in a specific port and the nearby city, including the vulnerability of the port. Furthermore, the PSRA may include, information about emergency units visited, present security forces available, authorities and services provided by local security contractors in addition to crew change and shore leave conditions, evacuation options etc.

Port Security Risk Assessments

Risk Intelligence has extensive experience conducting security assessments for clients and authorities in high risk areas around the world, as well as in Denmark. More than 250 ports are assessed on the Risk Intelligence System, some of which as desktop assessment, but many on the basis of a physical site visit to conduct a complete risk, threat and vulnerability assessment.

On this page, we explain what our Port Security Risk Assessments - or PSRAs - contain, how they fit in with other reports, and when it is a good idea to conduct a complete site visit for a more comprehensive PSRA.

OVERVIEW OF PSRA CONTENTS:

The Port Security Risk Assessment provides an overview of risks, threats and vulnerabilities, not only to the port, but also its surroundings: The nearest city where crew/superintendents might arrive from, the airport, or other transport facility, as well as waterside and shoreside security surveillance or lack of same carried out by port or local authorities. Risk Intelligence’s PSRAs contain assessments of:

City:

Transport between the airport and the port
Hotels chosen by the agent
Local knowledge regarding any threats or areas to be aware of

Port:

Access control
Fences and gates
CCTV
Signs and illumination
Waterside surveillance
Controlling restricted areas
Shoreside surveillance
Protection of cargo
Cyber security
Screening equipment
Emergency services & facilities

WHY A PHYSICAL PORT VISIT?

A physical Port Security Risk Assessment is relevant when adding a new port to a charter or when significant factors change, such a political instability or conflicts, or cyber attacks or activism. Even with detailed port websites and tools like Google Earth that allow us to zoom in on port conditions, we gain a lot more knowledge from being on the ground and able to inspect the ISPS security measures, and talk to staff and authorities.

Advantages of a physical port visit:

Establish and maintain a local network
Go through the crew-change procedure
Physically survey the security measures in place
Report and subsequently observe planned changes or upgrades to physical security measures