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Interim recommendations for port and coastal states regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high risk area (IMO)
MSC.1/Circ.1408
16 September 2011
1 The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee), at its
eighty-ninth session
(11 to 20 May 2011), having approved:
- 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 Area; and
- 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 Area,
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 PCASP.
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.
4 The interim recommendations
for port and coastal States regarding the use of
privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the
High Risk Area are set out in the annex.
5 The interim recommendations
should be read in conjunction with the interim
guidance and recommendations set out in MSC.1/Circs.1405/Rev.1 and
1406/Rev.1, 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 interim
recommendations so as to assist the Committee in deciding on any
action to be taken.
The full circular can be found at:
http://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/HotTopics/piracy/Documents/1408.pdf