Port Security Services & Maritime Security
Port security services need to deal with risks that most general security providers rarely encounter, and Anubis Group delivers specialist support for ports and harbours that includes access control, perimeter patrols, crowd management for cruise ship arrivals, CCTV monitoring, and security delivered in line with the ISPS Code by PFSO-qualified officers.
For harbour authorities, port operators, cruise line operators, shore excursion partners, and cargo terminal operators, that matters in day-to-day operations as much as during peak cruise calls: ports have to manage passenger flows, protect valuable cargo, secure remote or exposed sites, and meet strict international rules on who is legally permitted to do the job. This page looks at those risks, why the Port Facility Security Officer qualification matters, how remote harbour security and coordination with existing port teams work in practice, and what that looks like at sites such as Scrabster Harbour.
Why ports and harbours need specialist security
A generic guarding contract, however well run, isn’t built for the specific mix of risk a working port presents: open water on one side, public access on another, cargo that has commercial value and sometimes regulatory sensitivity, and a workforce that includes everyone from harbour staff to visiting ship’s crew. Getting this wrong doesn’t just create a security gap, it can put a port operator’s own compliance position at risk with its regulator.
A working port is not a single site with one type of risk. It’s a mix of open quaysides, restricted cargo areas, passenger terminals, and often a remote or rural location with limited backup. Cruise ship arrivals bring sudden, large-scale passenger movement that needs proper crowd management, while cargo operations need controlled access that satisfies both the port operator’s own rules and international shipping security requirements.
The PFSO qualification: what it means for the ship security plan
The Port Facility Security Officer qualification is specific to the maritime sector and sits alongside standard SIA licensing rather than replacing it. It covers the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which sits under Solas Chapter XI-2 and sets out how ports must manage maritime security risk. In April 2023, a number of Anubis Group managers and staff completed this qualification (see our PFSO Qualification announcement), specifically to raise standards across our existing port client portfolio and to allow us to offer genuine added value to new port and harbour clients.
Proven at Scrabster Harbour
Anubis Group provided security for the first major cruise ship to call at Scrabster Harbour in the far north of Scotland, supporting passenger disembarkation with our crowd management team while our PFSO-qualified officers managed the port facility side of the operation.
That relationship has continued season on season. Our port security work at Scrabster and wider port security capability cover both cruise arrivals and day-to-day harbour operations, and our cruise season update reflects the fact that this is now an established, repeat piece of work rather than a one-off contract.
What our port and maritime security services cover
- Access control for cargo areas, quaysides and restricted zones, in line with ISPS Code requirements, supported by cargo screening to detect illicit contraband and hazards without delaying legitimate logistics, with operational checks that can include X-ray scanners.
- Crowd management for cruise ship arrivals and passenger disembarkation, run by the same team behind our wider event and stadium crowd management work.
- Perimeter patrols and CCTV monitoring across harbour sites, including remote and rural locations.
- Liaison with harbour authorities, port operators and, where relevant, Border Force and customs.
- 24-hour cover backed by our own control room, not a third-party monitoring line, with security services delivered as tailored services on an armed or unarmed basis where the operational requirement allows.
Who this is for
Harbour authorities and port operators
Day-to-day security cover, access control and perimeter patrols across the harbour estate, backed by officers who understand ISPS Code requirements rather than treating a port like any other commercial site. Maritime intelligence can assess risks and threat levels before a vessel arrives.
Cruise line operators and shore excursion partners
Crowd management and passenger flow planning for disembarkation, timed to work alongside coach loading, local excursions and the port’s own turnaround schedule.
Cargo terminal operators
Controlled access to restricted cargo areas, with officers trained to check documentation and manage vehicle and pedestrian access without slowing down legitimate freight movement.
Compliance, audits, risk management and cruise season planning
Port security isn’t a one-off deployment. Ports operating under the ISPS Code are subject to periodic security assessments and audits, and our PFSO-qualified officers and management team work within that framework rather than around it, following the right process so your own compliance record isn’t put at risk by a security provider that doesn’t understand the requirements. Regular training and exercises reinforce security preparedness for port teams and security staff.
For cruise season specifically, planning starts well before the first ship arrives. We work with the harbour and, where relevant, the cruise line’s own shore team to confirm expected passenger numbers, disembarkation timings and any local events that might affect crowd flow, so staffing levels are set against the real shape of the season rather than a flat assumption. We also take advice from current guidance, including Marine Guidance Note 440 for counter-piracy measures where relevant.
Remote and rural harbour security
A significant part of our port and maritime work is in the far north of Scotland, well outside the reach of most national security contractors. We already run offices covering the Highlands, so distance from a major city isn’t a barrier to a proper, permanent security presence. This matters for harbour operators who have historically struggled to get consistent, accredited cover in remote locations.
Working alongside your existing port operations team
Port security rarely sits in isolation. Our officers are used to working alongside harbour masters, port operations staff, and other organisations involved in day-to-day port activity, including, during cruise season, shore excursion operators and local tourism partners, coordinating rather than operating as a separate silo. Passenger flow during a cruise call, for example, is planned jointly with the port so that disembarkation, coach loading and any local excursions run to schedule.
Why ports choose Anubis Group
Our officers are PFSO qualified, not just generally SIA licensed, which matters when a port operator needs to demonstrate compliance to its own regulators. Vessel security assessments are required for ship security plans. Anubis Group holds SIA Approved Contractor Scheme status, NSI Silver certification and ISO 9001 accreditation, the same management structure that runs our airport security and transport and aviation contracts. In compliance-led operations, the company relies on company security officers to submit a ship security assessment as part of that process. For events involving large crowds moving through a confined space, our event security team brings additional crowd management capacity when a single cruise call needs more than our standing port team.
A cruise call in practice
A cruise ship confirms its arrival slot at Scrabster months in advance. In the weeks before, we agree passenger numbers, expected disembarkation timing and any planned shore excursions with the harbour and the cruise line’s shore team. On the day, our PFSO-qualified officers manage the port facility side of the operation, checking documentation and controlling access to restricted areas, while our crowd management team handles the flow of passengers from ship to quay to coach. Anything unusual, from a delayed tender to a passenger needing assistance, is logged in a report through our control room rather than handled ad hoc on the day; where a Ship Security Alert System forms part of the vessel’s procedures, alerts are also sent to designated contacts and rescue coordination centres using the current contact details.
Frequently asked questions
Do you provide security for both cruise arrivals and everyday port operations?
Yes. Our Scrabster Harbour role covers both: dedicated crowd management and PFSO-qualified officers during cruise arrivals, and ongoing port security cover between cruise calls.
What is the difference between a standard SIA licence and the PFSO qualification?
The SIA licence covers general security guarding standards across the UK. The PFSO qualification is maritime-specific and covers the ISPS Code, the international framework for port facility security and maritime safety. It also supports safety procedures for people and operations on board. Every ship must have a ship security plan under ISPS. That plan must be approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or a Recognised Security Organisation and address ISPS Code requirements in paragraphs A/9.4 and B/9.2. Our officers working in port environments hold both.
Can you cover remote or rural harbours?
Yes. We already operate in some of the most remote parts of Scotland, including offices covering the Highlands, and have delivered port security in exactly this kind of location.
Do you liaise directly with Border Force or customs?
Where relevant to the port operation, yes. Our officers and control room work within the framework set by the port operator and any applicable border or customs authority. For compliance details, ship identification numbers must be visibly and permanently marked on vessels. Continuous Synopsis Records provide an onboard history record for the ship.
How quickly can port security be arranged for a one-off event, such as a single cruise call?
This depends on scale and lead time. Established clients with a season of confirmed cruise calls plan this well in advance; for a one-off requirement, get in touch as early as possible so we can plan crowd management and access control properly.
Talk to us about your port or harbour
Whether you need cover for a single cruise season, ongoing cargo security, or a full review of your current arrangements, get in touch for a site visit and a straightforward quote. Call 0800 121 6576, email sales@anubis-security.com, or contact us here for further information.