Private Seagoing Security Companies

Last Updated on Monday, 7 April 2008 09:05 Written by Jeffreycarr Monday, 7 April 2008 08:43

ISN Security Watch has an interesting article on the niche market of providing private maritime security in international waters thanks to an upsurge in piracy according to the International Maritime Bureau (US$16 Billion in losses annually).

Source: ICC Commercial Crime Services and the International Maritime Bureau

Patrick McCullen, author of the ISN article, identifies three primary drivers for this market:

1. Piracy attacks in international shipping lanes, particularly choke points like the Malacca Straits for slow-moving vessels.
2. The inability of weak or failed States to patrol their own territorial waters.
3. Anti-terrorism efforts against seaborne threats (i.e., nuclear device carried onboard a container ship).

PSCs offering maritime services include Marine Underwater Security Consultants, Hart Security, Background Asia Risk Solutions, and Glenn Defense Marine Asia. Blackwater would like to break into this market as well according to Blackwater’s Director of Maritime Operations Tom Ridenour, but so far – no joy.