1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-ninth
session (11 to 20 May 2011), approved 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.
2 Given the importance and urgent nature of the
issue, and the need to further 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 the guidance.
3 The interim guidance was subsequently revised
by the Maritime Safety Committee at its ninetieth session (16 to 25
May 2012) to take into account 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.
4 The 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 is set
out in the annex.
5 The attached revised interim guidance should
be read in conjunction with the interim recommendations set out in MSC.1/Circ.1443; MSC.1/Circ.1406/Rev.2 on Revised interim recommendations for flag States regarding
the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board
ships in the High Risk Area; and MSC.1/Circ.1408/Rev.1 on Revised interim recommendations for port and coastal States
regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel
on board ships in the High Risk Areafootnote;
and the information provided in MSC-FAL.1/Circ.2 on Questionnaire
on information on port and coastal State requirements related to privately
contracted armed security personnel 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 agencies concerned with anti-piracy
activities, shipowners, ship operators, shipping companies, shipmasters
and crews.
7 Member Governments are also urged to take any
necessary action to implement, as appropriate, the revised interim
guidance given in the annex.
8 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
guidance so as to assist the Committee in deciding on any action to
be taken.
9 MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.1 is hereby revoked.