Safety in Port

How We Prepare for World Conditions

Semester at Sea takes a comprehensive approach to safety and utilizes redundant procedures to reduce risk. We enlist federal agencies and risk specialists to assess the political and social climates of the countries on our itineraries and to formulate action plans during times of concern.

• We are a member of the U.S. State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). As such we receive safety and security briefings regularly and we are able to consult directly with a Senior Security Analyst for each region of the world we visit.
• We receive detailed, daily reports on world conditions from ASI Group, a non-governmental risk assessment organization. ASI Group provides crime activity maps (down to the neighborhood level) that we distribute to participants at mandatory pre-port safety briefings.
• We receive daily travel advisories and announcements about the countries we visit from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs.
• We notify the U.S. Embassies and Consulates at each country on our itinerary prior to our ship's arrival. U.S. representatives are provided with a list of all of our participants as well as a description of our field program.

Boarding and Dockside Safety

Much like undergoing a series of essential security checkpoints before boarding an international flight, Semester at Sea promotes a multi-level security plan to make certain that only our participants and registered guests gain access to our ship.

• At the Gangway

  To enter or exit the ship, all participants must scan their voyage ID and pass through a metal detector staffed by our ship's officers and crew. Personal belongings are searched when participants return to the ship (ensuring prohibited items are not brought aboard).

• At the Port/Pier

  Semester at Sea has a contractual agreement with each country's port agent to provide security at the port entrance and to patrol the pier area where the ship is docked.

• On the Ship
  MV Explorer personnel patrol the ship 24/7. In addition, SAS program staff is trained in safety and security procedures. A conduct officer is part of every voyage and this trained professional patrols the ship nightly in a community policing capacity.