5.1 Public authorities properly identified and
acting in the course of their duties should not be subject to searches
by the shipboard personnel when boarding the ship.
5.2 At the discretion of the master or of the
SSO, properly identified emergency response personnel who are responding
to an emergency, for example a fire onboard, should not be subject
to search by shipboard personnel when boarding the ship.
5.3 The engagement of pilots is in various locations
compulsory and pilotage is subject in certain countries to local regulations
and practices. Pilots boarding at sea and at the dock are subject
to access control measures at the discretion of the master or the
SSO in accordance with the provisions of SSP. The master or the SSO
should communicate with the pilots to ensure that access control measures
for pilots boarding at sea are conducted in such a way that the pilot
is not precluded from reaching the bridge in time to conduct the master-pilot
information exchange and begin providing piloting services necessary
for the safety of the ship and for the safety of navigation. If necessary
to ensure that the pilot has timely access to the bridge, verifications
of employment and other access control measures, such as searches,
in accordance with the provisions of the SSP may be waived once the
identity of the pilot has been verified to the satisfaction of the
master or SSO. Pilot organizations are encouraged to develop pre-authorization
and pre-clearance procedures with ships to facilitate the boarding
of pilots.