The maritime industry is one of the largest on the planet, and ensuring operations at sea continue safely takes a 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.
Maritime security is a specialized field in the marine sector, and safety officers must employ best practices to defend their vessels against both internal and external threats. These threats come in various forms, and each requires a different strategy for a proper defense. Security risks are not always malicious, but maintaining vessel safety is a constant priority.
Increasing shipping piracy threats have resulted in huge losses for the shipping companies, forcing them to find new methods to battle piracy. 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. In the recent past, several countries across the world have introduced legislation and rules to help the shipping companies to place armed guards on board the vessels to safeguard the ships from acts of piracy. The new rules allow the vessels to seek the help of private maritime security companies (PMSC) that are capable of providing qualified security personals to keep the ship, crew, and cargo safe. Across the world, there are many such maritime security companies that command unique respect for the stellar security services they offer.
Here is a list of 5 companies providing maritime security services.
1. Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Services
An association of “Veterans of special troops,” also known as VST, Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Services offers services to organizations and assets including commercial vessels and superyachts. The group also supports port facilities, the oil and gas industry, and the energy sector. According to the group, their service is available in regions such as the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Mozambique Channel, Gulf of Aden, and West Coast of Africa. The security teams of VST offer services to vessels including bulk carriers, fishing ships, yachts, cruise ships, and petroleum tankers, among others. The members of the group are trained personals from former special troops and marines. VST also delivers training to vessel owners and port operators in order to secure their assets and staff from threats.
2. STS maritime security
STS maritime security offers its services mostly to the US government, important defense contractors and selected private entities across the world. The company offers professional, fully licensed, highly trained security teams and manages all governmental permits, administrative interface and logistical support for security operations around the world. STS delivers privately contracted armed security personals to the maritime industry, securing assets and crews from a variety of threats. Some of the services being carried out by the firm now include service to the US Flagged RORO fleets in HRW and protection to bulk carriers transiting east African waters with the help of ‘fly away’ security teams, among others.
3. Neptune Maritime Security
With offices in the UK and the UAE, Neptune Maritime Security offers services to commercial vessels, cruise ships, superyachts, Ports & Terminals and oil and gas industries. Neptune’s security services are unique as it offers customised maritime protection to counter maritime piracy. The Company’s security services are also flexible and are offered based on the singularity and extent of a security threat. According to Neptune, the company has carried out 4,000 protected voyages in the High-Risk Area of the regions including the Indian Ocean and the West African Gulf of Guinea. The firm also provides security training to facility security officers and other crew members to ensure complete security of the vessels.
4. Hart Maritime
Established in 1999, Hart Maritime, part of Hart Integrated Solutions, is one of the established maritime security providers across the world. Hart offers an array of maritime protection services to help shipping as well as offshore companies and ports to protect their assets and employees from risks including pirates attack. According to the firm, Hart involves in at every stage of the project to ensure effective security and risk mitigation. Hart offers protection against piracy attacks in areas including the Indian Ocean, South East Asia and the Gulf of Guinea. When required, Hart’s security team works with the local navy and coastguard to resolve the crisis. In addition, the company also provides extensive marine security training to international shipping conglomerates and government authorities.
5. Seagull Maritime Security
The Malta-based Seagull Maritime Security offers a number of maritime security and anti-piracy services, helping the vessels make a safe and secure voyage. Seagull Maritime supports vessels, especially commercial merchant ships that are passing through the high-risk areas of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden to secure the goods and seafarers abroad. The security teams of the Seagull Maritime Security include personnel who have served Naval Commando and elite special operations units, trained and qualified to act against all kinds of threats at sea, particularly maritime piracy. According to the firm, the security teams of Seagull have successfully provided security service to hundreds of voyages, often effectively battling the pirate attacks.
