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Private Maritime Security Companies News

06 Dec 2021

BIMCO Launches Contract for Security Escort Vessels

© Wojciech Wrzesień / Adobe Stock

Shipping association BIMCO said it has created a new standard contract for providing a balanced contractual framework for security escort vessels (SEV) that accompany merchant ships in high threat areas such as the Gulf of Guinea, which has recently seen a rise in piracy activity as the dry season has begun.The new contract is dubbed SEV-GUARDCON because it is based on BIMCO’s GUARDCON contract for the employment of security guards on board ships.“The escort vessel’s capabilities…

21 Oct 2021

OCIMF Issues Guidance on Hiring Private Maritime Security Guards

Š momentscatcher / Adobe Stock

A new information paper from the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) provides guidance on hiring private maritime security companies (PMSCs). The use of PMSCs onboard merchant ships is widely accepted as one of the measures which can assist in keeping seafarers safe from harm and protecting vessels operating in areas of increased threat.While industry best management practice does not recommend or endorse the employment of PMSCs, the use of experienced and competent PMSCs either onboard the vessels…

11 Jan 2018

Damen Delivers Patrol Vessel to Nigeria

Guardian 4 (Photo: Damen)

Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd (Homeland) of Lagos, Nigeria, has taken delivery of another Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel for operations in the offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea. This takes the total delivered vessels/Guardians since the first arrived in early 2014 to four. Guardian 4 has joined its three sister ships in providing security services to the oil majors active in Nigeria’s territorial waters, together with additional support services including crew transfers and equipment deliveries.

29 Aug 2017

Patrol Vessel Delivered to Nigeria's Homeland

Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel (Photo: Damen)

A Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel has been delivered to Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd of Lagos, Nigeria, taking its fleet of these craft up to three, with a fourth currently under construction. Guardian 3 along with its sister ships Guardian 1 and Guardian 2 is now providing security and other support services to the international offshore oil companies active off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea, in cooperation with the Nigerian Navy. The Guardian series of 3307 Patrol vessels are themselves unarmed…

22 Jun 2016

Maritime Security Experts Weigh in on West Africa

Maritime operations in West Africa are affected by threats from piracy and other maritime crime. It is very complex to get an overview of the different types of maritime security provisions that are legal in the countries throughout the region. Risk Intelligence now provides this insight with a new service, including reports with an overview of the use of private and government security in 18 countries in the region. Risk Intelligence CEO, Hans Tino Hansen, said, “We have provided security analysis for West Africa for more than 10 years. It has always been a complex area with many different types of threats and many different types of security risk mitigation and legal frameworks.

28 Dec 2015

Tundra MDS Earns ISO 28007-1:2015 Accreditation

Photo: Tundra MDS

Tundra Maritime Defense Services (MDS), the maritime division of Tundra Group, announced that it has been awarded full certification and accreditation for the recently issued ISO 28007-1:2015 (Guidelines for Private Maritime Security Companies), following an audit conducted by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA). ISO 28007-1:2015 gives established guidelines to private maritime security companies (PMSC) that supply privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships and the compliance requirements are much more stringent than those required by the ‘old’ ISO/PAS 28007.

13 Jul 2015

New E-learning Course for Migrant Sea Rescue

Photo: IMO

UK-based charity Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) announced its cooperation with maritime training provider Marlins on the development and endorsement of a new e-learning course addressing the rescuing of migrants at sea. The new course, entitled Humanitarian Response, aims to provide learners with an understanding of the reasons why migrants and refugees choose a sea route, suggestions for planning and preparing ship and crew for possible involvement in large scale rescue operations and guidelines and suggestions for vessels involved in the rescue of large numbers of migrants or refugees at sea.

16 Jun 2015

IMO Adopts Gas and Low-flashpoint Fuels Code

The IGF Code, which will become mandatory under amendments to SOLAS, aims to minimize the risk to the ship, its crew and the environment, having regard to the nature of the fuels involved. (Photo:: FJORD LINE ESPEN GEES)

The new mandatory code for ships fuelled by gases or other low-flashpoint fuels was adopted by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London headquarters for its 95th session from June 3-12, 2015. The Committee also placed unsafe mixed migration by sea on its agenda and considered cyber security matters and passenger ship safety. It adopted new ships’ routing measures and approved a number of circulars arising from items put forward by the subcommittees.

05 Mar 2015

Panama Accredits Maritime Security Firm

Photo:  ESG Global Security

The Panama Maritime Authority has accredited ESC Global Security personnel to offer protection aboard Panamanian-registered vessels, in what is thought to mark the first Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) licence issued under the new Panama Administration. During December 2014, a new set of rules including a new licence fee for PMSCs was introduced whereby failure to comply would result in the revocation or suspension of a security company’s operating licence. The new…

28 Nov 2014

High Seas Becoming Less Secure

Despite the significant reduction in piracy attacks over the last few years it is now widely accepted by the maritime community that the safety of the High Seas cannot always be guaranteed by Governments. The future of security in the marine environment is about cooperation between the public and private sector according to the leading private maritime security company MAST. He added: “Although the Indian Ocean is relatively quiet at the moment, the overall political direction of Somalia is far from settled. Things could change very quickly and with very little notice. Astbury said that in the Mediterranean, few people realised the scale of the people displacement caused by the civil war in Syria and its spill over into the wider region.

24 Sep 2014

SAMI On Top Line Security Concerns

With progress being made against piracy off Somalia, it seems that other maritime security issues are becoming top line issues for shipowners. The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), is a global focal point for maritime security matters, and is well placed to highlight the current maritime security concerns, those which are over the horizon and the initiatives which are being rolled out to counter the threats and mitigate the risks. While there has been a degree of containment of Indian Ocean piracy…

03 Jul 2014

Private Maritime Security: SAMI Secretariat Update

"Initially the doors within the shipping industry had been closed to private maritime security companies, and there was a definite “them and us” divide. SAMI has joined the United Nations Contact Group on piracy, and this has allowed the maritime security industry a voice at the highest levels, and a conduit for information to be channelled. For a long time there was antipathy towards PMSCs – but now, it is able to communicate as respected, integrated and involved parts of the wider shipping community. Maritime security has come a long way in a short time, and it is a testament to the quality providers who have worked hard to provide excellence to their clients…

28 May 2014

Working with Maritime Security Guards: New Course

Videotel, in association with Steamship Mutual, has launched a new training programme  developed in conjunction with the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) and BIMCO, informs UK trade association Maritime London. Videotel points out that it is easy to forget that the use of Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) has only become commonplace in the last few years and that the selection and deployment of armed guards is still an unknown quantity for many operators and crew. The company notes that, as part of their anti-piracy measures, many shipping companies now employ armed security guards aboard vessels that transit…

22 May 2014

Videotel Adds ‘Working with Maritime Security Guards'

It is easy to forget that the use of Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) has only become commonplace in the last few years and that the selection and deployment of armed guards is still an unknown quantity for many operators and crew. In response to this, Videotel has made a new addition to its armoury of training materials with the creation of a brand new program – Working with Maritime Security Guards – which has been developed in conjunction with the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) and BIMCO.

30 Apr 2014

Port2Port Maritime Joins BIMCO

Port2Port Maritime has now been formally accepted as an Associate Member of BIMCO, following the company’s accreditation of ISO/PAS 28007, the first assessment of a maritime security company’s quality management system against an International Standards Organization framework (ISO). Andrew Varney, Managing Director, Port2Port Maritime said, “Membership to BIMCO gives a clear choice for Shipowners, Charterers and Operators alike that for the first time, having proven its competency and capability beyond doubt…

27 Mar 2014

Protection Vessels International Achieves LRQA Accreditation

File image

Private maritime security services provider, Protection Vessels International (PVI), part of Protection Group International, informs that it has achieved ISO/PAS 28007 certification from Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA). PVI was one of the first private maritime security companies (PMSCs) to participate in the ISO/PAS 28007 pilot scheme which aims to set the benchmark for PMSCs who want to demonstrate to the international community that they, and the operatives they supply, are of the right quality to legally, safely and effectively guard commercial shipping on the high seas.

13 Mar 2014

Tundra MDS Now ISO/PAS 28007 Accredited

Tundra Maritime Defense Services (MDS), the maritime division of Tundra Group, announce that it has now been formally awarded full certification and accreditation for ISO 28000 including ISO/PAS 28007:2012 (Guidelines for Private Maritime Security Companies), following Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) being appointed as a ‘Certifying Body’ (CB) against ISO/PAS 28007 by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). This new accreditation ensures that Tundra MDS maintains the highest possible level of ISO/PAS 28007 certification, a level that the company said is shared by just a handful of PMSCs. ISO/PAS 28007 gives established guidelines to private maritime security companies (PMSC) that supply privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships.

13 Mar 2014

UK Maritime Security Firm Ambrey Risk Gains Accreditation

Image credit Ambrey Risk

Maritime security company Ambrey Risk, specialists in commercial shipping in the oil and gas sector inform it has now been formally awarded full certification & accreditation for ISO 28000: ISO/PAS 28007, following Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) being appointed as a ‘Certifying Body’ (CB) against ISO/PAS 28007 by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). This concludes the ISO/PAS 28007 Pilot, the first assessment of a maritime security company’s quality management system against an International Standards Organisation framework (ISO).

12 Mar 2014

Port2Port Maritime Security UKAS Certified

Port2Port Maritime Security Ltd. has been awarded full certification / accreditation for ISO 28000: ISO/PAS 28007. Following a rigorous validation process, Port2Port is independently certified through MSS Global via the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), with full compliance to the new security management system specification. Andrew Varney, Managing Director of Port2Port Maritime said, "Port2Port has worked extremely hard to implement the ISO in full; this award is vindication of our efforts.

11 Feb 2014

ICS Board Prepares for IMO Meeting

ICS Chairman Masamichi Morooka

The Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), representing national shipowners’ associations from 35 nations and over 80% of the world merchant fleet, met in London recently. The ICS Board agreed that ICS will continue to refrain from actively encouraging administrations that have not yet ratified the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention from making the additional ratifications required to bring about immediate entry into force. ICS believes that…

10 Feb 2014

Neptune Maritime Security Certified to ISO PAS 28007

From L to R: Mike Richards, Ron Bishop and David Derrick from LRQA, Ian Simpson (Neptune GM), Cara Sims  (Neptune Operations Manager) and Jeremy Johnson (Neptune Business Development Manager).

Neptune announce that it has been certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) to ISO PAS 28007. The PAS, as part of the ISO 28000 family of security standards, gives established guidelines to private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing armed guards to ships. Certification to the standards demonstrates to clients and stakeholders that Neptune Maritime Security and its operatives can legally, safely and effectively guard their people, assets and reputation having undergone a rigorous and internationally recognised process.

13 Jan 2014

ICS Reports on Lessons from Somali Piracy

Peter Hinchliffe

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), a global trade association for shipowners, has issued a paper drawing upon the international shipping industry’s experience of Somali-based piracy during the period 2007 to 2013. “The intention is to identify lessons learned in order to shape future policy responses, wherever in the world they might be needed,” explained ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe. The ICS paper has been submitted to the International Contact Group on Piracy…

10 Dec 2013

Solace Global, Bournemouth & Poole Partner for Security Education

L-R: Matthew Butcher, Sales and Customer Account Manager, Bournemouth & Poole College and Mark Knowles, Training Director, Solace Global, outside of the training facilities at North Road.

Solace Global, provider of security in maritime, offshore and land-based environments, has partnered with Bournemouth & Poole College in Dorset to provide the first City & Guilds Maritime Security Operative course at a Further Education (FE) center. Following the appointment of Training Director Mark Knowles MSM in October this year, Solace Global established its own training cell dedicated to developing premium courses at reduced costs. Committed to offering the highest standard of security personnel…