24 The visual reading of draught marks by the
shipboard personnel is an essential safety requirement. Shipboard
personnel is required to carry out a varied of safety-related inspections
and maintenance of the ship which require access to the immediate
vicinity of the ship. In cases where the shipboard personnel may not
possess the appropriate documentation to allow them access to the
territory of the Contracting Government or country, arrangements should
be agreed to allow them to undertake such activity. Such arrangements
will require co-ordination between the PFSO and the relevant control
authorities and there should be a presumption that they will be facilitated
unless a specific security threat exists at the port facility. In
such cases alternative arrangement to allow the accurate reading of
draught marks or other safety-related inspections and maintenance
by the shipboard personnel should be in place.