Marine Transportation Security Regulations

217 (1) Security exercises

• (a) shall test the requirements of the vessel security plan that are relevant to the objectives of each exercise and shall involve the active participation of personnel on board the vessel as appropriate to the exercise;

• (b) may include the participation of governmental authorities or personnel from marine facilities, port administrations or other vessels who have security responsibilities, depending on the scope and the nature of the exercises;

• (c) may be performed with respect to only the vessel or as part of a cooperative program to test the vessel security plan of another vessel or a marine facility or port security plan; and

• (d) shall test, at a minimum, elements of coordination, resource availability, response, and communication and notification procedures.

(2) Security exercises shall be conducted at least once every calendar year with no more than 18 months between them.

(3) Security exercises may be

• (a) full-scale;

• (b) a tabletop simulation or seminar;

• (c) combined with other appropriate exercises; or

• (d) a combination of two or more of the elements set out in paragraphs (a) to (c).

(4) The implementation of security procedures at MARSEC level 2 or MARSEC level 3 is considered equivalent to a security exercise.