Gray Page, a maritime intelligence, investigation and crisis management company, advised that the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee’s (MSC) recently-approved interim guidance on the employment of privately-contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) to combat piracy underlines the requirement for independent vetting of private armed maritime security providers (AMSP). The MSC guidance, issued in May, incorporates recommendations for flag States confirming that it is the responsibility of individual flag States to ordain the carriage of security personnel and their firearms onboard ships sailing under their flags. Further interim guidance for shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters, seeks to address the difficulties faced in selecting an appropriate provider of armed security services.