Management of firearms and ammunition from embarkation to disembarkation
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1443 – Interim Guidance to Private Maritime Security Companies Providing Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area1 – (25 May 2012) - Annex – Interim Guidance to Private Maritime Security Companies Providing Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area1 - 5 Deployment considerations - Management of firearms and ammunition from embarkation to disembarkation

Management of firearms and ammunition from embarkation to disembarkation

  5.9 PMSC should ensure that the PCASP team manages firearms and ammunition responsibly at all times.

  5.10 PMSC should be able to demonstrate that they have given full consideration to, and undertaken the following with due reference to MSC.1/Circ.1408/Rev.1:

  • .1 documented compliance with the applicable flag, coastal and port State legislation governing the provision, transport, carriage, storage and use of firearms and ammunition and security equipment from embarkation to disembarkation including ports at which the ship may call whilst the PCASP team is on board. PCASP should be able to prove that the actual inventory carried corresponds with all documented declarations including compliance with any applicable export/import licences;

  • .2 the provision of appropriate containers for firearms, ammunition and security equipment at the point of transfer to and from the ship, in full legal compliance with national jurisdiction and port State laws;

  • .3 documented standards and procedures for a complete inventory of all firearms, ammunition and security equipment available upon arrival on board the ship (inventory should detail make, model, calibre, serial number and company end-user certificate and proof of purchase of all firearms and accessories; and details of ammunition natures and amount);

  • .4 effective control procedures for separate and secure onboard stowage and deployment of firearms, ammunition and security equipment;

  • .5 clearly defined and agreed areas on board where firearms may or may not be carried, together with agreed protocols about the state of weapon readiness (for example unloaded and magazine off, magazine on and weapon "made safe" states) and what conditions would initiate a change in that state;

  • .6 detailed and exercised orders governing the conditions under which firearms may be loaded and made ready for use should be explicit in the PCASP contract to ensure the highest level of safety and to optimize operational efficiency in the event of an incident requiring use of firearms on board the ship;

  • .7 the provision of safe areas ("loading bays") for the loading/unloading of weapons;

  • .8 a detailed policy for the accounting for of all ammunition at the time of embarkation and disembarkation from each transit, which should include a reconciliation of the inventory of both firearms and ammunition on embarkation and disembarkation;

  • .9 a detailed policy and procedures for the zeroing of weapons to the individuals that will carry and possibly be required to use them throughout the transit of the HRA; and

  • .10 a detailed policy and procedures for the routine maintenance of PCASP firearms and a programme for the formal inspection and servicing of weapons by a qualified armourer at least annually.

Parent topic: 5 Deployment considerations
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