Examples Armed Private Maritime Security Contactors (not BMP)

Unarmed Private Maritime Security Contractors (from BMP) The use of unarmed Private Maritime Security Contractors is a matter for individual ship operators following their own voyage risk assessment. The deployment onboard is subject to the national laws of the Flag State. The use of experienced and competent unarmed Private Maritime Security Contractors can be a valuable addition to BMP.

Armed Private Maritime Security Contactors (from BMP) The use, or not, of armed Private Maritime Security Contractors onboard merchant vessels is a matter for individual ship operators to decide following their own voyage risk assessment and approval of respective Flag States. This advice does not constitute a recommendation or an endorsement of the general use of armed Private Maritime Security Contractors. Subject to risk analysis, careful planning and agreements the provision of Military Vessel Protection Detachments (VPDs) deployed to protect vulnerable shipping is the recommended option when considering armed guards.

If armed Private Maritime Security Contractors are to be used they must be as an additional layer of protection and not as an alternative to BMP. If armed Private Maritime Security Contractors are present on board a merchant vessel, this fact should be included in reports to UKMTO and MSCHOA. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have produced guidance in the form of IMO Circulars for ship operators and Masters and for Flag States on the use of Private Maritime Security Contractors on board ships in the High Risk Area. The current IMO Guidance on the use of armed Private Maritime Security Contractors is included on the MSCHOA website. (www.mschoa.org).

Examples of Armed Private Maritime Security Contractors (not in BMP included). Maritime Security is a whole host of circumstances that have to do with all aspects of Maritime Security e.g. Maritime Company Security, Port Security, Marina Security, Vessel Security, Armed Maritime security Personnel and as said all aspects of the Maritime Industry that concern this area.

Some example companies are:

http://www.marinerisk.com http://www.globalert.net GlobAlert-M.A.R.S. http://www.solaradata.com http://www.oceanuslive.org http://www.iamsponline.org http://www.appds-maritime-security.com http://www.appds.co.uk

Maritime Security company's armed "SecOps", can be considered. To find out if the company under consideration is a "serious" one, It should be asked about any trade associations that they may belong to. One such trade association is the International Association of Maritime Security Professionals Also the contracting shipping company may ask for proof of this, the IAMSP will be able to verify any claims of membership in a matter of hours secretary(at)iamsponline.org will answer all questions regarding the status of Maritime Security Companies, in so far as to verify the claims made by the Maritime Security company.

Another way for shipping companies to vet the seriousness of the maritime security company is to check if they have signed onto the International Code of Conduct for Private security companies. There is a list of all companies that have signed this accord that can be checked to verify any claims made in this direction by the Maritime security company.

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