January 2013 Last month, the International Standards Organization released “ISO 28007”, a new standard of certification for private maritime security contractors who provide on-board security for merchant ships. Some of the logistics, including who exactly the audit inspectors for this certification will be, remain unclear. However, this provides a new and exciting method of certification […]
Japan’s anti-piracy bill
The Japanese government will soon submit a bill of anti-piracy legislation to the Diet that would allow private-security firms to assign contractors to Japanese merchant vessels. The bill would allow foreign companies to do business with all ships marked with a Japanese flag, in turn allowing these vessels to carry firearms when in areas infested […]
Security Contractors: Greater Oversight
December 2012 As a United Nations expert panel wrapped up its week-long visit to the Horn of Africa, it urged the government of Somalia to take more steps to ensure internal security in the country. The panel also noted that the government of the country should increase regulations on private military contractors. Faiza Patel, […]
Anti-piracy plans divide opinions
November 2012 Although there has been a recent drop in the number of pirate incidents in the waters off the east coast of Africa, many in the international shipping industry are warning that this does not mean the epidemic is over. Many realize that containing the symptoms of the issue is no substitute for a […]