Government issues guidelines for engaging armed guards onboard ships

04 Dec 2012

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The government has issued guidelines for deployment of private armed guards on board merchant vessels by the ship owners for combating the menace of piracy.

''Guidelines have been issued for deployment of armed guards on board merchant ships by the ship owners concerned,'' G K Vasan minister of shipping said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The shipping ministry has issued detailed guidelines for engaging private maritime security companies or armed security guards, including team size, equipment, command and control of onboard security teams, reporting and record keeping.

Shipping companies should ensure information on company structure and place of registration of the security agency, its ownership, financial position (annual accounts / bank references), extent of insurance cover (covering third-party risks), senior management experience and quality management indicators such as ISO accreditation.

The government has been providing an Indian naval escort in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.

''The government has constituted an inter-ministerial group of officers to deal with any hostage situation arising out of the hijacking, at sea, of merchant vessels with Indian crew on board,'' Vasan said.

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