Maritime Security Myths!

[imsaltd]

I have read a couple of threads recently re Maritime Security/Anti Piracy so here is my take on the subject.

On a serious note and to quell a few Maritime Security myths!

There are only 3 internationally recognised maritime security courses and they are 21 hour theory based courses.

The courses fall under the ISPS code and are:
Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO)
Ship Security Officer (SSO)
Company Security Officer (Shipping Company) (CSO)

They are about as far removed from underwater knife fighting courses as you can shake a big stick at. As someone mentioned previously and from personal experience, there have not been any pirate sub surface assaults on underway vessels! (God help us when they do)

They are not guarantees of work!

Not to mention individual maritime security companies but what you read on certain threads and in the press is not always the reality on the ground.

I attended a marsec seminar in Norway last week and the issue of insurance and armed teams etc was to the fore. Plenty of insurance underwriters and brokers in attendance with plenty to say about discount schemes.

The French Rear Admiral in charge of French maritime SF in the Gulf of Aden made the point that ships need to have plans and procedures in place.

He was told from the floor by someone not to far from where I am sitting that under the ISPS code plans and procedures are already in place on all vessels over 500 grt trading internationally i.e. nearly every one of the 22,000 vessels that transit the Gulf of Aden each year.

As most of you on here know you can have plans and SOPs coming out of your Ar...
What’s required are people with the knowledge and experience to implement those plans and procedures!

Marsec is no different. There is a long term roll in the GoA and other hot spots but it is not for armed teams or private security companies who do the occasional maritime security job.
The work is for time served marsec professionals with a deep understanding of the commercial maritime industry with STCW (Merchant Navy) qualifications underpinned by maritime security military service i.e. street cred with the commercial mariners you are working with.

90% of the security procedures and measures are already in place on vessels, it needs people with the skill set mentioned above to add the other 10% in implementation, mentoring and reassurance.

There are exceptions but in general armed teams are an expensive short term solution.

The latest US Company I have read about who say they have been approached to provide armed security in the GoA is called Hollow Point.

I rest my case.


Independent Maritime Security Associates Ltd (IMSA) www.imsaltd.com is a Maritime Security training provider. Our core business is training, mainly ISPS but we do offer other bespoke marsec training and consultancy.

We are not in the business of selling inappropriate courses

We are the UK training provider for ISPS courses for the following

• IMSA Ltd
• MUSC Ltd (Maritime Underwater Security Consultants)
• MSS (Maritime Security Solutions)
• Yacht-Secure.

IMSA offer their full range of ISPS accredited courses: PFSO, SSO and CSO. We also have a Yacht Security Officer course.

All the courses are IMO accredited. All the trainers are UK Transec/MCGA accredited.

IMSA trainers have personally trained over 3000 delegates in ISPS code courses worldwide.

We run a 3 day PFSO (Port Facility Security Officer) a 3 day SSO (Ship Security Officer) and a 3 day CSO (Company Security Officer) course at our training facility in Poole, Dorset.

These are International recognised qualifications.

We can run these courses at a client’s location if the numbers make it economical to do so.

These courses will be of benefit to anyone who is looking to get into Port Security work, be aware though that most Port operating companies train people from within their existing workforce and there are not many stand alone PFSO positions.

It will be of benefit to anyone looking for offshore security work in the Oil & Gas Industry. Especially in places like Nigeria where the Government have categorised all offshore instillations as Port facilities.

By the same token, generally the only stand alone SSO positions are on cruise ships.

SSOs in general shipping are usually existing ships crew double hatted as the SSO.

Having said all that the SSO course will be of benefit to personnel intending to work in the Super yacht security field.

There are also a few specialist companies out there doing anti piracy work etc and again an ISPS qualification would do no harm on your CV if applying for this type of work.

We do offer a discount to CP World members. Prices on request!

Jobs on the Circuit are tight, especially for you guys trying to get away from the sandpit. The PFSO/SSO certificates will certainly be an advantage on your CV when applying for anything remotely maritime. The ISPS code impacts on virtually every aspect of the maritime industry.

Feel free to give me or the training coordinator, Ron a ring on the number on the web site if you wish to discuss this further.

I will finish off by reiterating that we are not in the business off trying to get people to spend hard earned cash on inappropriate courses. Most of you have had to spend a small fortune doing CP/PSD courses etc.

If it's not for you we will tell you so!

You will also be glad to know the sia have nothing to do with the ISPS code!!!!!!!!!! Yet!

John

[HarryP]

Hi John,

Thank you for spending the time to provide us with that useful information.
I have recently left the RN and worked extensively in the Bab al men deb, Hormuz, Aden areas in an anti fiac/FP role. I thought my obvious path was the maritime so looked into it.
I soon realised, to reiterate your point, there is almost zero scope for the singular contractor trying to break into the business.
I then looked at the cruise liner paths, but it seemed that even the management jobs were very poorly paid and looked to be targeting foreign cheaper workers.
once again thank you for the info and i may be in contact in the future reference courses.

Regards.

HarryP

[imsaltd]

Harry,

Always happy to let the guys know how it really is. As galling as it might be it is always harder for the likes of yourself from the Grey funnel line to pick up work on the Circuit because of your perceived lack of military (green) experience. All I can say mate is keep persevering.

I was a Chief Security Officer on cruise ships and although the lifestyle was good the money is crap. As you point out, most of the former RN/RMs on the job have/are being phased out and replaced by cheaper options.

Drop me a PM or send an email to the company address on the website and I will give you a few steers.

John

[jmaccauley]

Wow, that was a very impressive plug.

Jerry

[tapmaster]

imsaltd

that was well presented mate. I think that should clear up alot of issues concerning maritime security.

Excellent Post

Tapmaster

[oblivious]

Hi John you sold it to me well done very good informative plug

[Heno]

John, Excellent post mate,

Looks like Marsec isn't going to be the next best thing then?

Thanks for all the info though, I know what you mean about the procedures already being in place.

I have a Transec qualification as an Aviation Security Instructor, and the procedures are there in the main, but as you said it's getting someone with the correct skill set to implement them.

As in the Maritime world, Aviation Security is often a double hatted job which kind of limits opportunities to break into it unless you have other related qualifications.

Heno

[Rich H]

Guys,

Just to give John's post a little backup; I have had attended his SSO course and subsequently put all my guys on it as well. John has underlined a very valid point. There are several companies out there who are running 'CP related courses' for work on super yachts. They do include diving, searching under the vessel for bombs etc. All of this is indeed bollocks. If the threat is that high then you get a specialist search team in and secure. For the the attendance of the SSO course, this will undoubtedly put a credible angle on this line of work that is recognised throughout the world. It also acts as a means of insurance. Furthering maritime skills in the attendance of RIB handling would also be of benefit.


Rich H

[imsaltd]

Jerry,

I believe that before I can comment on the subject of Maritime Security I have to prove my credibility as a subject matter expert and if by doing that I have to plug my company so be it.

We do maritime security for a living and feel passionately about what we do.
You will be hard pressed to find anyone with our experience and knowledge across the whole marsec domain.
Many companies advertise marsec capabilities amongst many other offerings.
We do marsec, end of. Again I feel it important to get that across so that my threads read as credible.

We are more than happy to offer advice without obligation.

Cheers to Rich for the chuck up! As Rich says, be very wary of the underwater knife fighting courses. Also there are companies out there offering work if you do their course. Again be very aware because the courses are subjective and carry no International accreditations.

Rich also makes the case for adquals such as a RIB qual. We have a job about to kick off where we are in the process of recruiting up to 14 former Bootneck RIB operators (No more CVs required at this stage)
The Bootneck bias is because of the nature of the work and requires a time served apprenticeship on said RIBs.

At the other end of the scale, on Superyachts a RIB qualification (RYA Powerboat level 2) will only enhance your CV along with yachty qualifications etc.

John

[jmaccauley]

John, so you don't misunderstand, that was not meant to be a criticism, it was from a fellow training provider (although not a maritime trainer). Obviously, we get our message out where we can.
Jerry