Singer: standards are needed to monitor private security agencies who offer
a solution to piracy, often for over-inflated prices, and who operate unchecked

Securewest calls for maritime security standards

Global maritime security services provider Securewest International has called on leading maritime regulatory bodies and, if necessary, governments to implement an international maritime security services ‘gold standard’ to halt the spread of unauthorized and inexperienced private security companies who may be carrying out dangerous or unlawful practices in the name of maritime security, often using security officers with little or no formal maritime training.

Securewest International’s vice-president Paul Singer said that it is crucial to have a clear minimum guideline standard for security companies who operate in the maritime sector, and that this should be a matter of urgency in order to safeguard both the sovereignty of the countries in the worst affected areas and safety of other maritime crew workers.

“Three-quarters of the globe is covered in water that is widely recognized to be very sparsely policed,” says Singer. Describing policing resources as “massively overstretched,” Singer noted that “the knock-on effect of this is a worrying influx of inexperienced start-up companies looking to make fast money from issues such as piracy and terror alerts. For the sake of the lives of all crew, British and foreign, it’s vital that anyone involved in providing maritime security services, or legitimately supporting a government in its attempts to cleanse problems in their waters, is properly checked to establish that the advice and actions they offer are not causing more harm than good.”