The maritime industry is one of the largest on the planet, and ensuring operations at sea continue safely takes determined effort.
The implementation of maritime security takes both knowledge and vigilance, and is essential to enhance security enforcement without slowing down the timely flow of international commerce.
Throughout this article, we’ll cover everything you’ll want to know about:
Maritime security is a general term for the protection of vessels both internally and externally.
The areas from which ships and maritime operations need protecting include terrorism, piracy, robbery, illegal trafficking of goods and people, illegal fishing and pollution.
Through supervision, inspection and proactive procedures, the marine industry does its best to minimize threats to maritime security, both malicious and accidental. And as the industry evolves and the marine sector grows, vigilance, enforcement and training will have to keep up with technology and increased opportunity for threats.
Since 9/11, there’s been an increased focus on protecting the marine sector from terrorism and other similar attacks, both in port and at sea. Several state and international organizations have formed to help set standards for bettering maritime security. Since the marine sector is so vast and the massive amount of goods entering the country is difficult to screen, every precaution possible to minimizing malicious exploitation is critical.
Security is not only the job of vessel safety officers, but the job of the crew as a whole, which is why it’s so crucial for companies to educate and train their employees so their vessels have a better chance of stopping security threats.
In today’s marine industry, ensuring security compliance is a complex task, as there is much to look over and many ways a security breach can happen.
Security officers not only need to be vigilant to prevent attempts to undermine the nation’s laws and security, but they also need to know how to be vigilant against local and internal threats. Small-scale attacks can still be harmful to a marine company and can result in the loss of lives, severe environmental damage or harm to company property. Here are a few of these types of risks.
When transporting valuable goods and resources, there are sometimes attempts at the local level to steal these goods from vessels. Security officers need to be vigilant for this reason both in port and at sea, to make sure valuable and sensitive cargo is secure.
Security officers must make sure that when their vessel is in port, no unauthorized personnel come aboard and tamper with sensitive equipment. Even if the documented crew members carry out vessel operations correctly, a trespasser can tamper with cargo rigging and other sensitive gear, which can lead to severe consequences at sea.
Large-scale security measures concern things that can happen on an international scale, usually as the result of more malicious operations than individual crimes, like terrorism, environmental crimes, smuggling and trafficking.
Modern advances in telecommunications and international commercial logistics have increased the range and avenues open to terrorists. Criminals sometimes attempt to use marine shipping channels to transport dangerous weapons and materials.
Terrorists use transportation avenues because they can move goods and even people to advance their cause, and the marine shipping industry is a prime target. They use shipping industries in attempts to damage global, political and economic security, as well as the safety of citizens. Security officers must be vigilant and knowledgeable about the pathways terrorists can use to attack.
Since the maritime shipping sector is by nature an international business, marine professionals must do everything they can to protect their vessel and country from these kinds of threats.
Illegal maritime trade:
A side effect of increasing maritime trade and economic globalization is that it will facilitate the expansion of transnational crime. Trafficking in drugs, arms and people is already big business, and maritime shipping is a crucial method of transport.
International crimes will not disappear anytime soon, and maritime security must help minimize their spread. The more illegal cargo the shipping industry can stop at the source, the less damage the shipment will do once it reaches its destination — by keeping the unlawful products and weapons out of the hands of criminals.
With every shipping vessel carrying hundreds of large containers, it’s difficult for security to check each one thoroughly. Criminals know this, and use it to their advantage. Smuggling networks will attempt to get around security measures and the shipping industry because its vastness and scale make it an easy target.
Smuggling is not exclusive to the shipping industry, as criminals will sometimes attempt to use other types of vessels to get their contraband past international borders.
Just as the oceans are the highways by which we transport a large number of our goods, they’re also the highways for the import and export of illegal items. Organized and international crime organizations use the shipping industry to transport large masses of their product, as we can see when we look at the many large-scale drug busts throughout the years.
Not only do they smuggle drugs, but they may also smuggle firearms and other illegal technology that fetches a high price on the black market.
Piracy may seem like an idea from the past, but large ships carrying millions of dollars worth of cargo still tempt criminals to attack ships. Today’s pirates and criminals are usually well-organized and equipped with advanced communication and equipment.
Ample training and experience in maritime security can help crew members prepare for and deal with a piracy attack safely.
Human trafficking is another one of the main issues that face international marine security. Illegal migration has been present in the maritime sector for a long time — whether it’s people escaping political unrest or unwilling people being trafficked. It’s difficult for the marine industry to catch all the illegal immigration, but proper marine security techniques help minimize the problem.
Environmental Damage: Because large-scale commercial operations take place in the ocean ecosystem, there will inevitably be incidents that harm the environment. It’s the job of marine security officers to help ensure that their vessel’s operations harm the environment as little as possible. Proper safety and security protocols are the best strategies to avoid disasters, especially in the petroleum industry.
Security Tactics
Regularly inspect the vessel: To monitor and ensure security measures, every security officer needs to be vigilant on their vessel and always be looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Oversee maintenance to improve security: If there’s anything aboard the ship that doesn’t comply with best security measures, it’s the job of officers to take care of it the right way.
Manage the coordination and handling of cargo: When loading and unloading cargo, a security officer needs to make sure to do everything according to protocol and ensure proper checks take place, as well as inspection of vessel stores and bunkers.
Proposing modifications: If there are any modifications to the security plan for the vessel, it’s the job of the VSO to suggest these to the company security officer, so they can make a company-wide change to improve security.
Report problems: If a vessel audit discovers anything wrong, it’s the security officer’s job to report it to the company safety officer so they can promptly implement corrective actions.
Assuring security awareness and vigilance: It’s not only the job of the VSO to monitor and be vigilant about anything out of the ordinary, but the role of other crew members as well. The safety officer should inspire the crew to be on alert and report potential threats.
Implement security training: It’s the job of safety officers to train their crew members about how to behave during normal operations and emergency operations of security.
Report and record security incidents: Anytime there’s something out of the ordinary, it’s the security officer’s job to note and report their findings to the senior security officer and the company security officer.
Ensure screening programs: The VSO needs to run screening programs like transportation worker identification credential checks that clear crew members to work around the vessel by passing background tests.
Monitor security equipment: A security officer must ensure security equipment is properly operated, tested, calibrated and maintained.
Supervise and support crew members: A vessel’s security officer needs to make sure the crew members are acting according to the security plan and regulations for their ship.
We are a senior consultant of the maritime security industry
We assist, advise and we suggest reputed PMSCs to our clients in the shipping industry.
Maritime security has become an important requirement for merchant vessels in today’s time.
Increasing shipping piracy threats have resulted in huge losses for shipping conglomerates around the world.
In order to tackle this problem successfully, many security Companies have started to provide maritime security services, which are custom made for the present modern piracy at sea.
Across the world, there are many such maritime security Companies which command a unique respect for the stellar security services they offer.
But, what is this that makes today a maritime security Company trustable?
What are the criteria that you must set in order to decide if this or that maritime security Company is good and effective in all your demands?
What you expect a maritime security Company to fulfill in order you feel safe and secure?
Maritime Security it is not just another business. Maritime Security it is based on knowledge, methodology, proved equipment, technology, accuracy, well trained personnel and high experienced managers in Defense, Security and Safety sectors.
With the aid of maritime protection offered under such qualifications, shipping conglomerates can be assured of plenteous security to its crew and cargo.
Oceanic navigation routes are necessary and cannot be done without. Since shipping piracy has become an unchecked evil in certain water parts and is spreading towards other oceanic networks, opting for maritime security services has become a choice that cannot be overlooked
Think well before you decide WHO will keep your property and your crew safe!
We don't negotiate your safety!
Our services through well established PMSCs include but are not limited to:
- Vessel protection in arms and/or unarmed if required
- Vessel security assessment & consulting
- Legal consulting
- Incident & emergency management with 24hr global vessel tracking service
- Crew security training
- Security Services to all kind of vessels, including Fishing ships, Mega/Super Yachts
and Cruising Vessels
In addition, we provide:
- Well trained and experienced high profile security teams
- A comprehensive security assessment of the vessel and a vessel-hardening plan
- Crew training & mentoring
- Vessel tracking
- 24hr support from our Operations Room & Real-time intelligence updates
- A graduated response to any impending security situation, which may involve the use of lethal force
We never compromise on quality; we just make sure that each dollar spent is spent in the right way, at the right time and we offer discounts for those with multiple transits per month on our already rock bottom prices.
Our clients are also our references! We have a vast experience in maritime security services and in all type of vessels including Yachts and Mega Yachts as we already are servicing with professionalism and accuracy this sensitive shipping sector.
Our goal is to ensure that in each operation we deliver the optimal outcome with specific emphasis on ships crew, cargo and
material security, enabling our clients to sail through the high-risk areas with the highest confidence and minimal disturbance.
Standard MarSec Equipment of Teams
Our Standard Equipment
Rifles 7.62x51mm or 7.62X39mm
Magazines of 20 or 30 rounds capacity
Minimum 1000 x Ammunition per set
Plates carriers or Tactical vests
ICW or Stand Alone ballistic plates NIJ IV
US PASGT Helmets level IIIA - 0101.06
Binoculars
Communication devices
Team Medical kits
Military cases (equipment/ammo/riffles)
Special tactical devices
Optional
Drones for special missions (optional)
Our Personnel
- Military experience
- Seaman’s book
- STCW95, all four levels
- SSO certificate
- Medical certificate
- Clean criminal records bureau (CRB) check
- Valid vaccinations
A chief Security Officer (CSO) and a legal advisor is available around the clock in order to support the operational teams and the maritime law matters.
Our greatest assets are knowledge, experience & personnel
All of our personnel are well trained professionals, physically, medically and mentally fit to carry out their duties. They have fulfill their Military Services and hold all of the necessary Certificates as required in the field of Maritime Security.
They served in the Hellenic Navy or Special Forces and has executed various missions as operators or Team Leaders transiting through High Risk Areas.
Generally, our people have executed a wide range of tasks in hostile environments within the security industry both on land and at sea, on the private sector as well as military operations around the world
We help clients reduce their exposure to threats and protect employees and assets by helping to identify gaps in existing physical security programs and by recommending improvements and enhancements to facilities, policies, procedures and technology.