Tag: PCASP

Private contractors will be performing critical security-related functions In September, 2007, a group of mostly European and American businessmen gathered for an informal drink at one of the five star hotels in Nairobi after attending an international humanitarian conference in the city.It was a unique gathering of businessmen as they represented the highest level of leadership in the legitimate business of war, peacekeeping and humanitarian logistics support in the world.In the informal meeting room was among others Doug Brooks, the President of the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), a voluntary membership group for private security, peace support and humanitarian companies.There was also Chris Taylor, the then Vice- President for strategic initiatives at the former US government contractor in Iraq Blackwater (Xe Services LLC), formerly the Director of the Harvard Defense and Security Initiative at the John F Kennedy School of Government and now CEO at Mission Essential Personnel that provides intelligence and translation service to the US Department of Defense.Also at the informal bonding session were representatives from PAE Government Services- another US contractor, Military Professional Resources Initiative (MPRI)- a defence company, and Universal Guardian Holdings, a global risk mitigation firm that provides integrated security products, among others. Since then, ...

On board Ships in the high risk area The Republic of Liberia issued Maritime Security Advisory 03/2011 for interim IMO Guidance.The International Maritime Organizations Maritime Safety Committee approved interim guidance on the employment of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships transiting the high-risk piracy area off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean at its 89th session in May 2011.The IMO interim guidance is largely based on guidance on the use of armed security guard services developed by the Liberian Registry for its shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters. The Liberian Registry submitted its guidance to IMO recommending IMO develop international guidelines.For further information, click here.Source: The Republic of Liberia

Discussed by Working Group at MSC89 The IMO has released a circular (MSC.1/Circ.1404) entitled "Guidelines for flag states and other authorities to assist investigators to collect evidence after hijack".This was on the agenda of Working Group 1 during the meetings of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC89) last week in London.Items discussed by WG1 included:Development of the Maritime Security ManualConsideration of Periodical Survey to Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)Guidelines for flag states and other authorities to assist investigators to collect evidence after hijackDevelopment of guidance to ship owners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel PCASP) on board shipsImplementation of counter-piracy measures, including Best Management Practices (BMP)To view the Guidelines, click hereSource: IMO 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

An additional measure to protect ships against the threat of piracy Industry Associations INTERTANKO, BIMCO, OCIMF, ICS, INTERCARGO and IG P&I Clubs, have worked quickly and effectively to produce a set of guidelines for ship owners who, following a risk analysis evaluation, may choose to make use of Private Maritime Security Contractors (PMSC), as an additional measure to the existing Best Management Practices, to protect ships against the threat of piracy.The resultant guidelines address a series of key issues including those regarding the selection and screening of PMSCs, insurance cover, command and control and weapon management.These guidelines have this week being submitted to the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee 89th session (MSC 89 meets this week 11-20 May), in the form of what is known as a "J" paper to provide assistance to the MSC 89 maritime security working group.The decision on the employment of a PMSC is a complex one for any ship owner. The absence of applicable regulation or industry self-regulation, coupled with complex legal requirements governing the legitimate transport, carriage and use of arms, is regrettable.This situation is further complicated by the rapid growth in the number of maritime security industry companies and doubts about the capabilities and ...

Approved on Maritime Safety Committee 89th session - 11 to 20 May 2011 Interim guidance on the employment of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships transiting the high-risk piracy area off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean was approved by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 89th session from 11 to 20 May 2011.The MSC approved an MSC Circular on Interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area, and Interim recommendations for flag States on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area. Both sets of guidance are aimed at addressing the complex issue of the employment of private, armed security on board ships.The guidance to shipowners notes that flag State jurisdiction and any laws and regulations imposed by the flag State concerning the use of private security companies apply to their vessels. Port and coastal States laws may also apply to such vessels.The guidance notes that the use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) ...

Measures to enhance Maritime Security Working Group 1 "Measures to enhance Maritime Security - Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships" has been working on the following report items:1. Development of the Maritime Security Manual.2. Consideration of Periodical Survey to Ship Security Alert System (SSAS).3. Guidelines for flag states and other authorities to assist investigators to collect evidence after hijack.4. Development of guidance to ship owners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) on board ships.5. Implementation of counter-piracy measures, including Best Management Practices (BMP).The Chairman of Working Group 1, Arsenio Dominguez, presents the finished report to the plenary meeting of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 89) on the last day of its 11-20 May meetings.Of particular interest will be the drafting of "Guidance to ship owners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) on board ships".This document has been developed by the IMO in conjunction with reference documents which included the document submitted by the industry - "Industry Guidelines for the use of Private Maritime Security Contractors (PMSC) as Additional Protection in waters affected by Somali Piracy (May 2011)", which was submitted as MSC 89/J/5.To ...