Vessel Hardening Plans & Remote Security Audits
Approved and recommended by OCIMF since 2016. An economical, accurate solution that eliminates the need for flights, hotels, and extended days onboard.
Request a VHPWhat is a Vessel Hardening Plan?
Our Vessel Hardening Plan is an excellent reference document that can be used by the CSO (Company Security Officer), SSO (Ship Security Officer). It's OCIMF approved and all we require is a General Arrangement (GA) of the vessel.
Our detailed Vessel Hardening Plan (VHP) captures all security measures, both OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and improvised, offering concrete benefits across prevention, response, compliance, and liability. From a maritime security perspective, the value is both operational and strategic.
1. Coherent, Layered Defence Instead of Ad-hoc Measures
- —Integrated protection: Documenting every barrier, lock, safe room, and armed/unarmed deterrent (OEM and improvised) allows you to design and implement a proper layered defence: detection, delay, denial, and response, rather than isolated measures.
- —Gap analysis: You can objectively identify weak points (e.g. unprotected access points, blind spots in CCTV, unsecured ladders) and avoid duplication in some areas while other critical areas are left unprotected.
- —Consistent application: The same level of protection is applied across shifts, routes, and masters because everyone is working to one coherent plan.
2. Better Crew Preparedness and Safer Execution
- —Clear crew responsibilities: A detailed VHP assigns specific tasks for each watch and emergency state: who secures which doors, who deploys razor wire, who activates citadel procedures, who manages access control.
- —Reduced improvisation under stress: In real attacks, unplanned improvisation can be dangerous. When improvised measures are pre-approved, documented, and rehearsed, they stop being "on-the-spot inventions" and become standardised, safer procedures.
- —Training & drills: A comprehensive VHP provides a concrete training baseline. Drills can simulate realistic conditions using the actual improvised and OEM measures the crew will depend on.
3. Enhanced Deterrence and Delay Against Attackers
- —Visible deterrence: A well-implemented VHP ensures that highly visible measures (razor wire, lighting, CCTV, locked doors, hardened bridge) are deployed consistently. Pirates and armed robbers often choose the "softest" target; visible hardening can push them toward less prepared vessels.
- —Delay and compartmentalisation: Documented procedures for securing internal zones, storing critical equipment, and limiting internal movement slow intruders' progress and buy time for evasive manoeuvring, mustering or citadel entry, and naval/coast guard intervention.
- —Effective citadel concept: A detailed VHP confirms that the citadel is truly viable: secured doors, independent comms, air, water, and emergency power, and that the route to it and its sealing are properly planned.
4. Seamless Integration of OEM and Improvised Measures
- —Avoids working at cross-purposes: Improvised measures (e.g. welded bars, additional padlocks, homemade window protection, cable ties on doors) can interfere with OEM systems (fire doors, emergency egress, watertight integrity). Documenting both allows safety checks and functional integration.
- —Standardisation of improvisation: Once an improvised measure proves effective, the VHP formalises it with technical drawings or instructions, clear deployment triggers and limitations, and safety warnings (e.g. do not fit during cargo operations, must be removed in port).
5. Regulatory and Best-Practice Alignment (ISPS, BMP, Flag, P&I)
- —Demonstrable due diligence: A detailed VHP is strong evidence that the company and Master have taken "all reasonable measures" to mitigate external threats. This is critical for ISPS Code compliance, adherence to BMP 5, and satisfying Flag State, Class society, and port authority expectations.
- —Inspection and audit readiness: External auditors (Flag, PSC, company, vetting inspectors) can easily see what hardening measures are in place, how they are deployed and maintained, and how they are integrated into drills and training.
- —Insurance and liability protection: In piracy or armed robbery cases, P&I Clubs and insurers pay close attention to whether layered security measures were in place and documented. A robust VHP supports claims, minimises exposure to allegations of negligence, and can positively influence risk assessments and premiums over time.
6. Improved Incident Response and Post-Incident Analysis
- —Faster, clearer response: During an incident, the VHP provides step-by-step checklists for escalation (Heightened Security, Imminent Attack, Attack in Progress), clarifies which measures are applied at which threat level, and ensures nothing is forgotten when time and attention are limited.
- —Better debriefing: After an incident or near miss, you can compare what was planned vs. what was actually done, identify where procedures, equipment placement, or crew training failed, and update the VHP to incorporate lessons learned.
7. Continuity Across Crew Changes and Trades
- —Knowledge retention: Without a detailed VHP, much of the vessel's security "know-how" exists as informal practices remembered by a few individuals. A documented plan captures all effective practices, even the "tricks" and workarounds, and ensures continuity as Masters, security officers, and crew rotate.
- —Rapid familiarisation: New crew, supernumeraries, and riding squads can quickly understand the exact configuration of barriers and routes, alarm, lighting, and CCTV coverage, and citadel location and procedures.
8. Operational Practicality and Safety Balance
- —Planned trade-off between security and operations: A detailed VHP identifies which measures are permanent (e.g. anti-boarding barriers in piracy-prone areas), which are situational (e.g. only fitted when entering a specific risk area), and the impact on cargo operations, pilotage, mooring, and emergency escape.
- —Fire, flooding, and escape considerations: Improvised blocks and bars that are not documented can trap personnel or block firefighting routes. A formal plan ensures all hardening measures are compatible with SOLAS requirements and there are procedures for rapid removal in case of fire or abandon-ship order.
9. Company-Wide Standardisation and Continuous Improvement
- —Fleet-wide alignment: A good VHP on one ship can be used as a template across the fleet, adjusted for vessel type and layout (tanker, bulk carrier, container, offshore) and threat profile and trading pattern.
- —Feedback loop: Incidents, inspections, and crew feedback across the fleet feed into standardised OEM upgrades (e.g. reinforced doors, better CCTV) and approved improvised measures with clearer guidance and safer implementation.
In summary, a detailed Vessel Hardening Plan that explicitly incorporates both OEM and improvised measures turns a collection of individual security actions into a coherent, auditable, and repeatable security system. It maximises deterrence and delay against attackers, protects the crew, supports compliance and insurance positions, and ensures that lessons learned are captured and applied across voyages and crews rather than lost with individual personnel rotations.
Example VHP Document
A sample Vessel Hardening Plan for a Handysize Bulk Carrier, including document control, equipment asset registers, and detailed deck plans with security equipment locations.
Benefits
Economical
No flights, no hotel costs, no extended days onboard. The entire process is conducted remotely from the vessel's GA drawings.
Quick & Accurate
Fast turnaround with detailed, vessel-specific hardening recommendations based on the GA.
OCIMF Approved
Approved and recommended by OCIMF since 2016. A trusted, industry-recognised standard for vessel security planning.
Applications
Reference for CSO and SSO
Anti-piracy drill planning
Gap analysis for vessel security
Stand-alone security document
Fleet-wide security standardisation
Compliance documentation
Get Your Vessel Hardening Plan
Send us your vessel's General Arrangement and we'll produce a comprehensive hardening plan.
Contact Us