Further interim guidance on the use of privately contracted
armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships to counter Somali-based
piracy has been approved by an IMO intersessional working group.
The Intersessional Maritime Security and Piracy Working Group of the
Maritime Safety Committee, which met at IMO Headquarters in London from
13 to 15 September 2011, approved the following Maritime Safety
Committee (MSC) circulars for dissemination:
- MSC.1/Circ.1408 on Interim Recommendations for port and
coastal States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security
personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area;
- MSC.1/Circ.1406/Rev.1 on Revised Interim Recommendations
for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security
personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area;
- MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.1 on Revised 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
- a joint MSC and Facilitation Committee (FAL) circular on Questionnaire
on information on port and coastal State requirements related to
privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships, which is aimed at gathering information on current requirements.
The circulars provide interim guidance and recommendations to be
taken into account when considering the use of PCASP if and when a flag
State determines that such a measure would be lawful and, following a
full risk assessment, appropriate.
As stated in the circulars, the interim guidance and recommendations
“are not intended to endorse or institutionalize†the use of armed
guards. Therefore, they do not represent any fundamental change of
policy by the Organization in this regard. It is for each flag State,
individually, to decide whether or not PCASP should be authorized for
use on board ships flying their flag. If a flag State decides to permit
this practice, it is up to that State to determine the conditions under
which authorization will be granted.
The use of PCASP should not be considered as an alternative to Best
Management Practices (BMP) and other protective measures. BMP4 has
recently been issued by the shipping industry and will shortly be
disseminated by IMO (as MSC.1/Circ.1339).
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