The CEO of SAMI, Peter Cook said, “There has not been a successful hijacking of a commercial vessel in the High Risk Area since May 2012 and this is principally due to the increasing competence and professionalism of the private maritime security industry. This is the task SAMI set out to achieve and we have done it.”
Big news in the MarSec industry. SAMI or the Security Association for the Maritime Industry is liquidating. Like the article mentioned below, it is because of a huge decline in membership.
Although, there are some grumblings out there about SAMI being ineffective. Like for example, for the Seaman Guard Ohio incident, SAMI has not been able to do much for those men and the company, and you hear that amongst the community out there.
Either way, I still think SAMI has been pretty useful for getting everyone together and figuring out what needs to happen for regulating this industry. I mean the maritime security industry was the first PMSC group to have an ISO, so that is pretty cool.
Five years ago, piracy was pretty bad and numerous companies came onto the scene to answer the call. Some were good, and some were bad, and others had no business being involved with this stuff. But at the end of the day, PMSC’s saved the day out on the high seas.
It was groups like SAMI who decided to get organized and point the industry in the right direction with their voice, backed up by a membership of companies and insurance groups interested in the same thing. So for that, I thank SAMI and Peter Cook for putting in the effort.
As the readership knows, I actually dedicated a page to SAMI companies, just so folks had a resource to go to for finding MarSec companies. I will keep the page up until the SAMI website is gone. The companies that continue to provide MarSec will still be around. –Matt
Peter Cook, CEO of SAMI.
SAMI Voluntary Liquidation
APRIL 18, 2016“The Security Association for the Maritime Industry Ltd Announcement of Voluntary Liquidation”
After 5 distinguished years of representing the private maritime security industry the Directors of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry Ltd (SAMI) have made the decision to put the company into voluntary liquidation.
SAMI was formed when piracy and hijackings off the coast of Somalia prevailed, but since the first members joined in April 2011 much has changed. The CEO of SAMI, Peter Cook said, “There has not been a successful hijacking of a commercial vessel in the High Risk Area since May 2012 and this is principally due to the increasing competence and professionalism of the private maritime security industry. This is the task SAMI set out to achieve and we have done it.”
The industry has also evolved and consolidated significantly; our membership has fallen from its peak of 180 to less than half that figure. Consequently the Association is no longer financially sustainable in its current configuration.
The SAMI Secretariat has worked tirelessly, on behalf of its membership, to represent them in as many influential forums as possible around the world and to establish an effective regulatory structure for the use of armed guards on board ships in the pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean.
It is globally recognised that SAMI has had a very positive influence on the development of the use of armed guards on board ships in the North-West IndianOcean. As noted by a former commander of the naval task force EUNAVFOR, the private maritime security industry “has a 100% rate of success”, thereby, protecting many thousands of seafarers from pirate attacks and the horrors and deprivations of being held hostage. SAMI has also reassured ship owners, charterers and marine insurers of a high standard of professionalism from the Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) providing a measured and proportionate response to deter pirates from attacking ships transiting the High Risk Area.
Yordie Wiebes of Shore & Offshore Security, the Chairman of SAMI members’Industry Steering Group (ISG), said “SAMI has done a fantastic job in bringing together this new international industry over the past 5 years. It has provided a focal point for the shipping industry and the members alike. SAMI has, on our behalf, led the way in the formulation of a robust regulatory structure for the use of armed guards on ships in the High Risk Area which has allowed us to protect thousands of innocent seafarers and made significant strides in the raising of professional standards across our industry. Whilst the original SAMI concept has served us well, it is now time to re-evaluate the role that such an organization plays in a dynamic maritime security environment.
”Neil Roberts, Manager Marine and Aviation, Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) said;“There is no doubt that SAMI made a positive contribution to the private maritime security industry by helping to establish improved regulation and, in doing so,improved how the industry was perceived. Its pioneering work on floating armories will be an enduring legacy”.
Captain Thomas Heinan, Deputy Commissioner Maritime Affairs, Republic of theMarshall Islands Registry stated; “SAMI has been an essential element to the promotion and development of a quality, responsible private maritime security industry through its influence and assistance in the development of industry standards. Now that this goal has been achieved, it is only natural to move on to the next challenge. The Marshall Islands Registry would like to thank SAMI for its role in keeping our fleet safe and secure and helping to bring floating armories under regulatory control.”
Dr Phillip Belcher, Marine Director, INTERTANKO added; “SAMI’s contribution to ensuring a better regulated space was significant. Through the provision of a single point of contact to this industry, shipowners were able to talk sensibly and proactively at a real time of crisis in the shipping industry. It is a shame that that point of contact is now being lost,but their positive impacts will remain as their legacy.”
Peter Cook commented “We would like to publically thank all current and past members of the SAMI Secretariat, our associates, affiliates, partners and the members that have contributed so much to the success of the Association and the unique position we have held within the global maritime industry for the past 5 years.”Story here.