Circular
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1408/Rev.1 – Revised Interim Recommendations for Port and Coastal States Regarding the Use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area1 – (25 May 2012) - Circular

Circular

  1 The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee), at its eighty-ninth session (11 to 20 May 2011), having approved:

  • (1) MSC.1/Circ.1405 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 Areafootnote; and

  • (2) MSC.1/Circ.1406 on Interim recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Areafootnote,

 agreed that there was an urgent need to develop further recommendations to Governments and, in particular, for coastal and port States, on aspects related to the embarkation, disembarkation and carriage of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) and of firearms and security-related equipment for use by PCASPfootnote.

  2 In this respect the Committee recognized that the facilitation of the movement of PCASP and of the firearms and security-related equipment for use by PCASP was affected by the national legislation and policies of port and coastal States and in this connection there was also a need to address the concerns of port and coastal States with respect to the presence of PCASP and of firearms and security-related equipment for use by PCASP on ships entering, transiting or leaving their territorial sea(s).

  3 Given the importance and urgent nature of the issue, and the need to develop and promulgate detailed guidance and recommendations as soon as possible, the Committee approved and the Council authorized the convening of an intersessional meeting of the Maritime Security and Piracy Working Group (13 to 15 September 2011) to update and expand upon the guidance previously issued. The intersessional Working Group revised the existing guidance and approved 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.

  4 The interim recommendations were subsequently revised by the Maritime Safety Committee at its ninetieth session (16 to 25 May 2012) to take into account minor consequential amendments arising from the development of the interim guidance to private maritime security companies set out in MSC.1/Circ.1443 on Interim guidance to private maritime security companies providing privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area.

  5 The revised interim recommendations should be read in conjunction with the interim guidance and recommendations set out in MSC/1/Circ.1443, MSC.1/Circs.1405/Rev.2 and 1406/Rev.2 footnote, the information provided in MSC-FAL.1/Circ.2 on Questionnaire on information on port and coastal State requirements related to PCASP on board ships, as well as the other recommendations and guidance developed by the Organization for preventing and suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships.

  6 Member Governments are urged to bring this circular to the attention of all national authorities concerned with anti-piracy activities and/or border control issues, shipowners, ship operators, shipping companies, shipmasters and crews.

  7 Member Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations with consultative status are invited to bring to the attention of the Committee, at the earliest opportunity, the results of the experience gained from the use of the revised interim recommendations so as to assist the Committee in deciding on any action to be taken.

Parent topic: MSC.1/Circular.1408/Rev.1 – Revised Interim Recommendations for Port and Coastal States Regarding the Use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area footnote – (25 May 2012)
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.