LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF PRIVATE ARMED GUARDS Hellenic Mediterranean Panel 29 th March 2012
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Leading the way; making a difference
Click to edit Master title styleLEGAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF PRIVATE
ARMED GUARDSHellenic Mediterranean Panel 29th March 2012
Michele WhiteGeneral Counsel, INTERTANKO
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Leading the way; making a difference
Armed guards a commercial necessity or slippery slope?
- 2009 – 117 attacks ; 46 successful hijacks – 39%- 2011 – 151 attacks ; 25 successful hijacks – 17%- 2012 – attacks up; success rate down again - BMP and military intervention insufficient- Wider use of private armed guards- No ship with PAGs successfully hijacked- Financial cost – in 2011 - USD 500 million? - Who do you trust? Standards? - --Regulation/Accreditation?- Standard contracts – GUARDCON?
Overview
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Use of Armed Guards
• Who are the PMSCs?– Private companies– Private individuals – ex military (Royal Marines; US Navy
Seals; Yemeni coastguard?)– Governed by national not international laws– Not military– Not police– BUT – they may use lethal force
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Do you need Armed Guards?
• Risk Assessment– Current threat levels (MSCHOA, UKMTO, IMB, INTERTANKO
Security Alerts)– Ship’s proposed route– Ship’s vulnerability – size, freeboard, manoeuvrability, BMP
measures– Ship’s cargo– Risk of use of armed guards – misuse firearms, liability,
escalation, compliance with national and international laws
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What to look for?• Checklist
– General– PMSC Background Information – Selection and Vetting of individuals– Training the team– Insurance cover for the PMSC– Size, Composition of the PCASP Team and their Equipment– Command and Control of Onboard Security Team – Management of Firearms and Ammunition from Embarkation to
Disembarkation – Rules on the Use of Force– Reporting and Record Keeping– Familiarisation for Master and the crew
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Use of Force• Are PMSC’s allowed :
– To carry weapons?– To repel a piracy attack– To seize, arrest, detain and handover– To actively interdict pirates
• Duty to render assistance
• Relationship with the Master
• Jurisdiction?
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Carriage of Firearms • Mainly National/Domestic Laws
Law of the Flag of the ship Port/coastal state
• Types of solution Regulations on embarkation/disembarkation Licensing individuals or particular type of weapon Export/end user licences
• Soft law IMO Guidelines National guidelines Industry guidelines
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Repelling an attack? • Private armed guards can use force to:
– Defend from an attack– Includes right to self defence/defence of others– May include use of lethal force in extreme
• Private armed guards may not:– Delay, disrupt or seize a pirate ship
• Governed by:– Domestic criminal law– Soft laws on PMSCs
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Seize, arrest, detain, interdict?
• Seizure on account of piracy– Warships/government ships only
• Arrest, detain, handover?– SUA Convention
• Interdict pirates– Warships/government ships only
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Duty to Render Assistance?• Treaty obligations including:
• International Convention on Search and Rescue• International Convention on Safety of life at Sea (SOLAS)
• Duty of ships with PMSCS to render assistance to:• Other merchant vessels in distress• Alleged pirates in distress
• BUT• not absolute obligation• assess danger to ship, crew and passengers
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The Master and the PMSC • Who decides on use of force?
– The master?– PMSC?
• Considerations– Master ultimate responsibility for safety– Individual’s right to self defence– Expertise of PMSC– Contractual clauses
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Jurisdiction - What if….?• Greek Flag Vessel• UK PSC and armed guards• Exchange of fire• Somali pirate killed• Ukrainian crew injured • Pollution incident• High seas? Territorial Waters?• Who decides?
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Thank you