1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-ninth
session (11 to 20 May 2011), approved interim guidance to flag States
and 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, and to develop new guidance for port
and coastal States on the same issue.
3 Following the high-level debate on the issue
of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships that
took place at its ninetieth session (16 to 25 May 2012), the Committee
agreed to also develop guidance to private maritime security companies
to complement existing guidance, and to further assist policy development
at the national level and facilitate greater harmonization of policies
at the international level related to the issue of private armed security
on board ships.
4 The Interim guidance to private maritime security
companies providing privately contracted armed security personnel
on board ships in the High Risk Area is set out in the annex.
5 The attached interim guidance should be read
in conjunction with the interim guidance set out in MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2 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; 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, including shipowners, ship operators, shipping companies,
shipmasters and crews, and private security companies.
7 Member Governments are also urged to take any
necessary action to ensure the implementation, as appropriate, of
the 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 interim guidance
so as to assist the Committee in deciding on any action to be taken.