Piracy and Security Choosing a Trustworthy Supplier

Mark Hankey Head of Marketing

Maritime & Underwater Security Consultants

The Problem

Picture - UKMTO

So How Do You Choose A Maritime Security Company?

Looking for a Company – Things to Look For?

•  Company number

•  Telephone number

•  An address

•  A solid website

•  Recommendations (Flag)

•  An appreciation of legal, insurance and client issues

•  Evidence of insurance

•  Retention of personnel

Things to Look For – Part 2 •  Does the company have any

form of accreditation?

•  Can the company provide references and evidence of experience?

•  Does the company conduct background checks – and revalidate?

•  How long has the company been going?

•  How does the company train its personnel?

Personnel Selection

•  Ask to see the CV’s of the personnel deploying to your vessel

•  Key competences should include:

–  Unblemished military record

–  Inherent knowledge of ship routines

–  Ability to brief in a authoritative and succinct manner

–  Possess strong teamwork and leadership attributes

Personnel Selection – Part 2

•  Ask for evidence of:

–  Knowledge of ships routines and equipment

–  Knowledge of the ISPS code

–  A broad knowledge of the IRPCS (ColRegs)

–  Previous experience in fire fighting and damage control (ideally STCW-95)

–  Previous transits conducted

–  The training and mentoring they have received

–  Type of pre-deployment training received

A Good Security Liaison Officer Will....

•  Conduct a security audit

•  Use simple and effective measures to protect the vessel

•  Not forget the morale of the crew. They should be prepared to train the crew in a range of scenarios

•  Be adept and personable and be able to get along with people from different cultures..

•  Be uniformed, well-spoken and diplomatic

•  Be able to work with the vessel’s senior management team

Arms

•  When was the company incorporated?

•  CV’s

•  Who authorises use of force?

•  Team Leader vs. Master

•  Armed Escort Vessels

•  Rules of Engagement

Arms – Part 2

•  People to tell

–  Insurers

–  Cargo interests

–  Charterer

•  Things to Do

–  Stowage

–  Training

–  Quality

–  Disposal of weapons

-  From the BBC –

-  “An independent inquiry is planned, but first investigators will need to establish who had jurisdiction - the flag the vessel was flying, its owners or the nationality of the contractors - and who was responsible for the security contractors”

Remember the Law

Article 19 UNCLOS – Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:

.....any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind

I Think I Have Found A Good Company

Promises That Can’t Be Kept

Make Sure You Read The Small Print

•  All travel and accommodation & PDA fees are for the client’s account and organization

•  Service available for vessels transiting at 12knots or more in a protected convoy

•  Embarkation takes place at Salalah, Hodeidah or Aden

In All Aspects of Your Protection

Buyer Beware....

XXX prides itself on a wide range of security knowledge…………….

•  THE EXECUTIVE TEAM

–  XXXX (CEO) Former British Army Officer……

–  XXXX (Head of Operations) Former British Army Officer…….

REMEMBER

•  You get what you pay for

•  Reputation, brand are generally matched by price

•  There are few guarantees in this business

•  Do due diligence and protect your company and personnel

QUESTIONS Mark Hankey

mark.hankey@mandusc.com