Tag: SAMI

There is a rising trend of tankers hijacked - all cargoes are now at risk With the worrying rise in piracy attacks across the South East Asian region, the global focal point for maritime security matters, the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) has urged all Company Security Officers (CSOs), Masters and Ship Security Officers (SSOs) to exercise caution when their vessels transit or operate in the area.According to reports, this current Asian piracy spike is based on a very specific security problem, as pirates and criminals have been hijacking vessels to steal oil cargoes. This has led to a rising trend of tankers being hijacked, and it must be assumed that all such cargoes are at risk in the area.It is being stressed the threat does not necessarily end there. While the ongoing threat to tankers in the Malacca Straits, surrounding waters and anchorages is set to continue the problem could be set to spread. The message from SAMI is that other vessel types could soon become targets too, and so it is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that necessary security measures are in place.While the current focus is mainly on product tankers, there are concerns ...

The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAM I) believes that a new international standard for armed guards on ships can deliver much required reassurance for the shipping industry, but there is an urgent need for support and acceptance from ship owners and flag States.

SAMI: Looking to the Future - Understanding the threats is key to keeping trade flowing

SAMI stresses the need after Suez Canal terrorist attack and urges shipping to check security plans

PMSC accreditation programme Several companies have now passed the initial stages of SAMI's international private maritime security company (PMSC) accreditation programme. SAMI, the Security Association for the Maritime Industry, created a standard and mechanism to accredit companies within the global membership, and the three companies which initially volunteered to act as a pilot group have now been confirmed as having been successful.Those companies are MIRIS International, Securewest International and Spirit Security Services. Each of them underwent a stringent due diligence check during Stage 1 of the SAMI programme.The checks applied to a range of different areas of the companies' operations to ensure compliance with a range of minimum standards. The checks are in line with guidelines issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and ensure that legal, compliance and quality issues have been adequately addressed.MIRIS International delivers key maritime security services to ship owners and managers. The company has established a reputation for attention to detail and is fully compliant with UK and overseas-applicable firearms laws and licensing requirements.MIRIS undertakes comprehensive recruitment, vetting and training of its consultants, including mandatory attendance at the company's maritime security operative course and maritime firearms training course. All operational services are supported by MIRIS ...

International Accreditation Programme for Private Maritime Security Companies The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) launched its International Accreditation Programme for Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs).The SAMI Accreditation Programme will see maritime security providers, within the Association's membership undergo a three-stage process of due diligence, systems checks and site visits. The programme will be managed by SAMI, with accreditations performed by an independent third party certification body, the National Security Inspectorate (NSI).Work on developing the standards and accreditation programme has been ongoing for the past eight months. Further developing the guidelines laid down by industry and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the programme will assess the capabilities, experience, corporate standing and resources of PMSCs.SAMI founder Peter Cook said: "It has been no mean feat to forge a united front from an industry which has always followed its own path. We are pleased and proud to announce the launch of what we believe to be a rigorous and significant means of assessing global maritime security providers."The developments were led by SAMI and supported by NSI who have been conducting a pilot scheme that successfully concluded last month. NSI Chief Executive Jeff Little added: "We are delighted to work with SAMI. ...

SAMI has stressed the importance of UK becoming involved in efforts to counter Somali piracy The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) has stressed the importance and significance of the UK government and parliament becoming involved in efforts to counter Somali piracy.This comes following the release of the latest House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report on 'Piracy off the coast of Somalia' which states it is unacceptable that the Indian Ocean has become so dangerous for commercial shipping, while supporting the UK government decision to permit private armed guards to defend British flagged ships.The fact that, as yet, no vessel has been taken by pirates when guarded by armed teams speaks volumes, said SAMI.However, according to SAMI founder Peter Cook: "The bold decision to allow vessels to use armed guards was just the start. Now the authorities must set about the task of ensuring the systems and rules for the use of force which they employ are appropriate and adequate."The report recognises that the UK government's guidance on the use of force, particularly lethal force, is limited and there is little to assist a ship's master in making a judgement on when force can be used. There remains ...

Citadel Symposium, hosted by SAMI Leading figures from across the maritime industry gathered last week to discuss the use of citadels onboard ships.Parallel to the debate on armed guards, the use of citadels is on the rise and the Citadel Symposium, hosted by the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), heard from a panel of industry experts.The International Maritime Organization has stated that citadels can only be established with the input and guidance of professional security experts, and security consultant John Twiss, COO of UK-based Independent Maritime Security Associates (IMSA), spoke of his personal experience of successfully withdrawing a crew into a citadel.The audience heard how he and three colleagues had boarded the Maltese-flagged chemical tanker Sichem Pandora last October to carry out a security appraisal and put measures into place when the vessel was approached by a skiff carrying pirates as they were crossing from Mozambique into Tanzania waters.Fortunately a citadel had been created and after five hours in which the crew had managed to make contact with a coalition helicopter and Turkish Naval coalition warship, the pirates gave up their attempts to penetrate the citadel and fled.The symposium, held onboard HQS Wellington in London, also heard from ...

SAMI believes the new guidance and recommendations are timely The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) welcomes the IMO's progress on its revised guidance and recommendations for the use of privately contracted armed security on-board ships. Following last week's Intersessional Maritime and Piracy Working Group, the IMO has released new guidance and recommendations on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel.SAMI believes the new guidance and recommendations are timely, as violent pirate attacks are set to reach record levels as they resume after the lull during the monsoon period and a reduction in scale and operation of the world's navies.Commenting on last week's first intersessional meeting of the IMOs Maritime Security and Piracy Working Group, SAMI Director Peter Cook said, "The IMO is making great progress towards providing a structure for the maritime security industry, importantly the IMO has made recommendations and provided guidance for the use of armed security personnel which is a necessary step towards creating a relevant structure for the industry to work within."There has also been praise for the work undertaken by the IMO on facilitating the passage of armed guards and their weapons on merchant ships. It is hoped that the work of ...

In the first months of 2011 included 248 total incidents The numbers of reported maritime security incidents off Somalia and in the Indian Ocean continue to grow, writes Steven Jones of the newly formed Security Association for the Marine Industry (SAMI).The 2011 data makes grim reading, as the first few months of the year have included 248 total incidents. The Maritime Security Review figures include, amongst others, 191 incidents of piracy or attempted piracy, 8 acts of terrorism and 27 incidents of piracy and hijack of vessels.As piracy attacks rise, private security guards are being used to safeguard vessels from hijack. Some owners/operators use unarmed personnel, while increasingly others are opting for armed security teams. Given that, to date, no vessel has been hijacked while carrying armed guards it is perhaps understandable that the carriage of weapons is becoming more accepted.The tactics used by pirates are well documented, and from either shore bases, or more commonly motherships, they send out speedboats and skiffs full of pirates to attack ships. The pirates fire machine gun rounds and rocket propelled grenades and hope to gain access to the vessel and take it over. They then hold the crew and vessel for ransom.Such ...