Feral Jundi

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Maritime Security: German Shipowners Turn To Private Security For Protection Against Pirates

      “Every economic sector bears the primary responsibility for the safety of its employees.” For Berlin, a proposal like Stolberg’s poses legal problems, partly because most German ships are registered in low-cost nations. But if the ship owners are now forced to hire private mercenaries, the shipowners’ association countered, it would be a “failure of the state and a return to the Middle Ages.”

     The Ernst Komrowski shipping company will now have its 20 ships protected by armed guards. When the German Interior Ministry told the Hamburg-based company that it could not deploy armed men on a container ship registered in Germany, the company registered the ship under a flag of convenience. Now the laws of Liberia apply on board.

     A ‘return to the middle ages’? lol We are talking about armed security guards on boats, and not hiring the German Landsknecht to take out the Swiss Guard.

     But where we are at right now, the state’s current methods of stopping this piracy scourge is not working.  Or better yet, the main states involved with implementing strategy have failed to eliminate the threat of piracy and have failed to protect ships.  That is unacceptable to me, as it was unacceptable to Pompey or Woodes Rogers.

     What is cool about this article is that it highlights what the German shipping industry has had to resort to in order to insure the safety of their crews.  They gave their government and other countries a chance to take care of the problem and this is the end result–turning to private industry.

     The quote up top also mentioned an interesting tactic that German shipowners are having to use in order to get armed security on their boats.  If their government won’t allow armed security, then register the vessels under a flag of convenience that will allow that kind of security. Liberia was mentioned and I am sure there are others out there that would work too.

     The article also mentioned a few maritime security companies involved with protecting all of these German owned ships (German ship owners control 3,500 ships, the world’s third-largest commercial fleet). Those companies are Hart Security and Templar Titan. I would expect more German security companies to come forward for providing protective services to meet the demands of these ship owners. So it was odd that they did not find any for this article.

     Finally, the article mentioned something that I forecasted here on the blog.  That the pirates would eventually use the tactic of boarding ships with blow torches so they can breach the ‘safety rooms’. The pirates are also entering the realm of torturing their captives, probably to put pressure on hostage negotiations and get that fat ransom.  All I know is that private armed guards on a boat is about your best option for protecting a vessel these days. It is a shame that it has taken this long, and with this many expensive and deadly lessons, for shipowners to come to this obvious conclusion. –Matt

Escalation off Somalia: German Shipowners Turn to Mercenaries to Protect against Pirates

02/01/2011

By Clemens Höges, Holger Stark and Andreas Ulrich

An attempt to rescue the pirated German freighter Beluga Nomination off the coast of Somalia ended in tragedy, with at least one crew member dead. Now shipowners are demanding that the German military protect their ships. Some have already resorted to hiring armed guards.

When he received the distress call on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 22, the officer on duty at the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office in Dubai could hear immediately that someone was firing live ammunition. The ship, apparently in serious trouble, identified itself as the Beluga Nomination, a German freighter. When the pirates attacked, the Beluga Nomination was located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) north of the Seychelles.

(more…)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Industry Talk: Suicide Attack Hits Hart Security Guest House In Kabul, Kills Two Drivers

     Another attack and this time it sounds like two local national drivers were killed. Rest in peace to the fallen. Now I doubt this has anything to do with Crazy Karzai’s recent drive to ban PSC’s, but it certainly helps his cause when the Taliban attack PSC’s.  Obviously this is a sign that the Taliban and company feel that contractors like this or medical workers and NGO’s, are threats and they are legitimate targets. PSC’s are heavily involved with reconstruction and aid projects, which directly equates to winning popular support of the people. Take out these forces, and services and projects being administered decreases. Is this what Karzai wants, because I know this is what the Taliban want. –Matt

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Suicide attack hits Western security company in Kabul

August 10, 2010

KABUL — Two Taliban suicide bombers blew themselves up at the entrance of a Western private security company’s house in central Kabul on Tuesday, killing two drivers, Afghan police and witnesses said.

The attack came as President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman said all international and domestic private security firms would be dissolved in a bid to transfer capacity to the weaker Afghan police and army.

Head of police criminal investigations in the Afghan capital said the two civilians killed were drivers for international security contractors Hart.

“There were two suicide bombers who detonated themselves at the entrance. Two drivers were killed and a security guard was injured,” police chief Sayed Abdul Ghafar Sayedzada told reporters.

A senior representative of the London-based company told AFP there had been an incident in the vicinity of their villa, but had no details.

(more…)

Monday, February 1, 2010

Media News: The Media And Their Usage Of Security Contractors In War Zones And Disasters

   I wanted to do a quick post about the media and their weird relationship with my industry.  In one breath they will write entire articles about how immoral privatized security is in war zones, and in that same breath they will get on the phone and hire private security officers for protection in war zones and disasters. Kind of ironic isn’t it?

   So I figured I would delve into this concept of the media’s twisted love affair with security contractors, and I came up with some good stuff.

   For this deal, I did write several news organizations, and none of them gave a reply back. I will edit, when I get a reply, but no dice so far.  The question I wanted answered, is who do they use for security in war zones and disaster zones.  Simple question, yet no one wanted to take the time to answer back.

   But the pay dirt was contacting the International News Safety Institute.  Those guys gave me the low down on who the media goes to for security services, and with that, I got all the juice that I wanted.  The three top companies specifically identified by the INSI for these types of high risk services are AKE, TOR International and Chiron Resources. I thought that was cool, and on the INSI website, they even mentioned Armor Group and Hart Security as media supporters.  Hart even boasted about providing services to the media in Haiti on their website and at IPOA.

   So below, I posted all the quotes I could find, listed under testimonials at all of the company websites mentioned.  Notice the big names who just raved about the security services and training given by these companies? lol.  I wonder if their bodyguards ever had to loan them a pen while they wrote scathing articles about security contractors and their ‘immoral activities’ in war zones or disasters?

   Finally, I hope the journalists reading this post understand that we in the industry know what the real deal is.  We know you need us in order to do your business in war zones and disasters.  Behind every high dollar Anderson Cooper type, is some guy getting paid handsomely to be the bullet and shrapnel sponge for that journalist. I just hope that a post like this sheds some light on that deed, because I know most of the media is probably too busy to bother writing about such boring things.- Matt

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Media support by INSI

While nobody can remove all the danger, journalists can do much to anticipate dangers, reduce risks and come through hazardous assignments safely.

Journalists have an individual responsibility to anticipate and reduce dangers and a collective responsibility through their professional organisations and trades unions to campaign for safer working conditions. Journalists, their organisations and their employers, all have a critical function in reducing the unacceptable rate of death and injury.

A range of specialised media support service is available for journalists working in dangerous environments.

This section gives information about media support providers. INSI gathers details from the organisations themselves plus a variety of other sources. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, but no guarantees can be given. Training may change from time to time and contact details may alter.

Media support services providers are listed in alphabetical order

Link to International News Safety Institute here.

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What the media has to say about AKE

“They’re the industry leaders in training and protecting those of our staff working in harm’s way. Even those of us who think we have nothing to learn have been humbled at the hands of AKE.”

Chris Cramer

(Former) Managing Director, CNN International

“Without AKE’s training, I’m convinced that [my colleague] Bengt wouldn’t be alive today.”

(more…)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Industry Talk: Piracy-Hart Security Joins Forces with Swinglehurst Insurance

Filed under: Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 1:48 PM

   I thought that this was cool, and certainly a positive trend in the industry.  When the insurance companies think it is a good idea to offer security professionals to ship owners, that want reduced cost insurance plan, then that means it must make sense financially for the insurance company.  That these companies are probably getting sick of paying out large sums of money to professional kidnap and ransom crews that operate in such places like the Gulf of Aden.  This concept is nothing new to the industry, what I do like about the latest focus on piracy, is the potential of more work for security contractors.

    Now on the security side of things, hopefully Hart is providing everything the guys in the field need in order to protect these ships.  There are so many rules and laws that completely hamstring some of these maritime operations, or the companies themselves shortchange the security forces tasked with protecting the client and their ship because of cost.  I am not saying Hart would do such a thing, but these are the issues that come to mind once we start talking about security on the high seas.  

     These pirate crews, thanks to the exorbitant bounties they have been getting lately, are able to invest in some heavy duty firepower and boats.  Will security operations be able to deal with this effectively?  Who knows, but I do know that this issue should be looked at seriously by those involved with the operation.  With a ship, getting off the ‘X’ or kill zone is a lot tougher than with convoy operations on a road.  You cannot run away and in the high seas, the ‘bigger stick’ does make all the difference. 

    It’s the same thing for convoy operations in Iraq or Afghanistan and how the companies carry out those contracts. As a security specialist (speaking for myself), I want all the tools (weapons, armor, sound vehicles, etc.) necessary to do the job of protecting the client and team. I also want sound leadership that know their stuff, has the courage to do what is right, and takes care of their people.  And taking care of your people means someone that is not afraid to train the team to a level of extreme unit cohesion/intelligence, and fighting for the team when they have issues or need certain tools to do the job.  The pay is important, but not the most important issue out in the field.  

     I want to be with a team that will give me the highest odds of survival and mission accomplishment so I can come home to spend that money I earned.  And you know what the say– ‘Dead clients don’t pay’, so it pays to focus on taking care of your security force.  I say God bless the company that understands this concept and makes it a priority, and God damn the company that puts more of a priority on cost and completely ignores these concepts of sound leadership and taking care of their people. –Head Jundi 

6 October 2008

Protected Gulf of Aden Voyages

 

Hart Security is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with Swinglehurst Limited in a move that sees the benefits of security and insurance combined to offer the best all round protection on voyages in the Gulf of Aden. 

Swinglehurst now offers Shipowners, either directly or via their brokers, War Risk Cover including the risks of Piracy, for voyages within the Gulf of Aden where vessels are protected by Hart personnel.  The comfort afforded by the involvement of Hart will enable extremely attractive insurance rates to be offered.  

Key Elements of the product

•        Cover placed 100% at Lloyd’s

•        Vessels protected by Hart Security Team during voyages

•        Piracy included within War coverage

•        Attractive insurance terms aligned with preferential market rates from Hart

•        Hull values up to USD 75,000,000

•        War P & I up to USD 75,000,000

•        Detention cover to protect Loss of Earnings if required

•        No deductible for Physical Damage Cover

Notice of voyages should be given 14 days in advance so that arrangements for protection can be made.

Hart is a recognised market leader in the provision of maritime security solutions to the transportation and energy sectors. Working closely with governments, regulatory bodies and industry, Hart is able to provide practical security solutions to meet clients’ requirements.

Hart’s Maritime Department has extensive experience from both the military and commercial sectors in providing waterborne security.  The company provides consultancy services, personnel and vessels for Anchorage and Oilfield Waterborne Security Support, Exclusion Zone Enforcement, Sub-Surface Detection/Deterrence and Anti-piracy Support Services for Governments and industry.  

Their experience in providing Waterborne Security Services worldwide include: Anti-piracy Services in the Gulf of Aden and Malacca Straits, EEZ Fisheries Protection Operations along the coast of East Africa and Exclusion Zone Enforcement and Maritime Counter Terrorism training courses for the Yemen Ministry of Defence.

The Swinglehurst Group was founded in 1999 and is a leading independent insurance broker in the London market.  Based in the City of London Swinglehurst also has representative offices in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro); Chile (Santiago); China (Shanghai); Colombia (Bogotá); Uruguay (Montevideo); USA (Miami).  They provide brokerage and claims services in the following classes of insurance business:  Marine, Non-Marine, Renewable Energy, Aquaculture, Life (Accident and Health), Motor, Travel Insurance and Warranty.   

 

For Insurance enquires please contact:

Paul Agate (paul.agate@swinglehurst.co.uk) Mobile: +44 7970 719837 or

Mike Maloney (mike.maloney@swinglehurst.co.uk) Mobile: +44 7967 561049

www.swinglehurst.co.uk 

 

For Hart Waterborne Security Services please contact:

Carina Dixon (cdixon@hartsecurity.com) Telephone: +44 20 7751 0771

www.hartsecurity.com

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