(a) General. The vessel owner or operator must ensure that security measures relating to cargo handling, some of which may have to be applied in liaison with the facility or another vessel, are specified in order to:

(1) Deter tampering;

(2) Prevent cargo that is not meant for carriage from being accepted and stored on board the vessel;

(3) Identify cargo that is approved for loading onto the vessel;

(4) Include inventory control procedures at access points to the vessel; and

(5) When there are regular or repeated cargo operations with the same shipper, coordinate security measures with the shipper or other responsible party in accordance with an established agreement and procedures.

(b) Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level 1. At MARSEC Level 1, the vessel owner or operator must ensure the implementation of measures to:

(1) Unless unsafe to do so, routinely check cargo and cargo spaces prior to and during cargo handling for evidence of tampering;

(2) Check that cargo to be loaded matches the cargo documentation, or that cargo markings or container numbers match the information provided with shipping documents;

(3) Ensure, in liaison with the facility, that vehicles to be loaded on board car carriers, RO-RO, and passenger ships are subjected to screening prior to loading, in accordance with the frequency required in the VSP; and

(4) Check, in liaison with the facility, seals or other methods used to prevent tampering.

(c) MARSEC Level 2. In addition to the security measures required for MARSEC Level 1 in this section, at MARSEC Level 2, the vessel owner or operator must also ensure the implementation of additional security measures, as specified for MARSEC Level 2 in the approved Vessel Security Plan (VSP). These additional security measures may include:

(1) Increasing the frequency and detail of checking cargo and cargo spaces for evidence of tampering;

(2) Intensifying checks to ensure that only the intended cargo, container, or other cargo transport units are loaded;

(3) Intensifying screening of vehicles to be loaded on car-carriers, RO-RO, and passenger vessels;

(4) In liaison with the facility, increasing frequency and detail in checking seals or other methods used to prevent tampering;

(5) Increasing the frequency and intensity of visual and physical inspections; or

(6) Coordinating enhanced security measures with the shipper or other responsible party in accordance with an established agreement and procedures.

(d) MARSEC Level 3. In addition to the security measures for MARSEC Level 1 and MARSEC Level 2, at MARSEC Level 3, the vessel owner or operator must ensure the implementation of additional security measures, as specified for MARSEC Level 3 in the approved VSP. These additional security measures may include:

(1) Suspending loading or unloading of cargo;

(2) Being prepared to cooperate with responders, facilities, and other vessels; or

(3) Verifying the inventory and location of any hazardous materials carried on board.