6.1 It is a customary practice to escort the pilot
from the deck to the navigation bridge on arrival and from the navigation
bridge to the deck during the departure of the pilot.
6.2 It is reasonable to expect that public authorities
and emergency response service may not be familiar with the layout
of the ship and thus escorting them whilst on board might be the prudent
course of action. However, it is recognized that in certain cases,
either due to the number of the shipboard personnel or due to the
prevailing circumstances at the time, it might not be possible or
practicable to escort public authorities through the duration of their
stay on board. In such a case, the master and/or the SSO should have
a general understanding as to the movements of public authorities
and emergency response services on board. The fact that public authorities
and emergency response services might conduct their duties unescorted
should not be construed as a failure of the ship to implement appropriate
security measures, neither a case to prevent public authorities and
emergency response services to perform their duties.
6.3 When the arrangements to be made for the escort
of public authorities and of emergency response services and of the
pilots are provided, they should be such as not to unnecessarily delay,
in any way, the performance of their duties.