Feral Jundi

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Maritime Security: Ministry Of Shipping–Indian Ship Owners Are Now Allowed To Contract With Private Security Companies

Filed under: India,Maritime Security,Publications — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 1:20 PM

This is surprising, because from what I can tell, Indian ship owners are able to contract with whatever PSC they want. Which means Indian ship owners could tap into the already vibrant maritime security market. This is great news if true. I posted the guidelines in my Scribd if anyone is curious, and I could not find anything in them that said these PSC’s had to be Indian owned.

A couple of months back I posted a deal about the Indian government warming up to the idea of allowing their ship owners to use armed guards. But I got the impression in that article that they would only allow retired Indian naval officers to work on these vessels? Now I am sure Indian shipping companies would probably prefer contracting with Indian PSC’s, but hopefully with these new guidelines, this will help them to realize they have a choice–that’s if they would like to go outside of the market of Indian PSC’s.-Matt

 

Ships with Indian crew can have armed guards
Aug 30 2011
The ministry of shipping on Monday issued guidelines allowing ships with Indian crew to deploy armed guards in a bid to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. The move comes on the back of recommendations from the inter-ministerial group (IMG) of officers constituted to handle the hostage situation on hijacked ships and also suggest preventive measures.
It has been found that about 35 per cent of the ship transiting in these waters deploy armed security guards and that the pirates generally don’t attack ships with armed guards on board, an official release said on Monday. So far, 120 Somalian pirates have been apprehended by India as on date.
As per the new guidelines, ship owners are allowed to engage private maritime security companies (PMSC) through a proper selection procedure. In line with these, all Indian ships visiting Indian ports are to furnish details of security personnel on board, the firearms carried by them and the details of licence issued, etc, to the port authority, customs, Coast Guard and the Navy. Foreign merchant vessels visiting Indian ports with security guards are also required to follow similar procedure, as per the guidelines.

(more…)

Monday, August 8, 2011

Industry Talk: Indian PSC’s To Shop For Arms With Government Approval

Filed under: India,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 4:27 PM

The AK-47 kind of weapons — automatic and semi-automatic — are still out of bounds for the private agencies. The government fears misuse of sophisticated weapons.
“But there are other weapons: pistols, revolvers and other rifles that we can buy once the changes come into effect,” said Kunwar Vikram Singh, chairman of Central Association of Private Security Industry.
He anticipates a demand for about 12,000 gunmen for the cash and transit business — transferring cash by financial institutions to ATMS or bank branches alone.

This is another bit of news from around the world about the PSC market in India. This is great news that they are finally allowing companies to legally buy firearms so guards have a means to defend property, clients, and self. But my question is what took you guys so long? Especially with all of the high profile attacks that India has suffered, you would have thought that this would have been a no brainer awhile back?

The other thing that gets me with this, is the limitation on the types of weapons.  Shotguns and pistols are a nice start, but the enemies of India carry AK-47’s and various other high power modern fire arms. To me, you must at least match or exceed the firepower of your potential threats. If the terrorists in the Mumbai attack were all carrying AK-47’s, then maybe that might be a clue?

This news might also impact the shipping security dilemma that India is trying to overcome. That getting armed guards on boats is a logical step for the security of vessels. But like I mentioned up top, shotguns and pistols are no match against an extremely desperate criminal armed with AK’s, PKM’s, and RPG’s.

My last thoughts on this is that world wide, security for cash transits is going to be big. There is so much financial instability right now, and the global economic woes will produce an increase in crime. So PSC’s will be pretty active in cash transits and other financial related security services, as we see things get worse. This will be particularly true as certain regions are no longer able to pay for sufficient police forces, and unemployment rates are high. If you look at places like Mexico, PSC’s are definitely on the rise. –Matt

 

Pvt security firms to shop for arms?
Aloke Tikku
August 08, 2011
The government is set to allow private security agencies to buy firearms and arm guards to protect high-value assets.
The move comes more than two years after the 26/11 attacks that prompted companies such as software major Infosys to seek permission for guards with automated weapons.
The home ministry’s proposal to allow state governments to issue bulk arms licences to registered private agencies was in final stages, sources said.
In the absence of such a provision, security companies depend on individuals with licensed firearm. This is illegal but the police look the other way as they can’t fill the vacuum.

(more…)

Monday, June 13, 2011

Afghanistan: Government Is Building A 7,000-man Security Force For Hajigak Mining Contracts

Filed under: Afghanistan,China,India,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 2:00 PM

“The companies (at Hajigak) need to be secure and the Afghan government is making all arrangements. Security at the work camps, the steel plant, movement of men and materials, everything will be taken care of by the government of Afghanistan. We will permanently locate 1,500 persons of the Afghan National Police at Hajigak.”
In case the contractor wants to bring in their own security, like for an “inner ring” as the Chinese have done, Shahrani says Kabul will be “flexible”.

Now this is interesting. So I am wondering how the Afghan government plans to fight the insurgency, and build a security force for these mines?  I thought we were training the police to actually ‘police’ in Afghanistan, and not be security guards for these mines? –Matt

Foreign companies fund private army: The Afghan Government is building up a 7,000-man privately funded militia to protect the country’s mining industry as it struggles to attract foreign investment while battling against a bloody insurgency. The Mining Protection Force will be funded entirely by foreign companies through licences they buy to develop iron, gold and copper mining projects.
Story here.

—————————————————————-
New Afghanistan mining projects create opportunity for India
By Ajai Shukla
June 07, 2011
The new Great Game for the rights to mine Afghanistan’s enormous mineral wealth is gathering momentum. With the global mining industry, and especially Indian mining majors, already focused on the unfolding competition for the massive Hajigak iron-ore mine, Afghanistan has announced five potentially lucrative mines.
Speaking exclusively to Business Standard in Kabul, Afghanistan’s Minister for Mines Wahidullah Shahrani revealed, “After Hajigak, in July this year, I will put five major projects on tender: three copper and two gold deposits and, in February 2012, I will put a huge oil basin in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif on tender.”
Immediate attention, though, is focused on the tender for Hajigak, a two-billion-tonne deposit of high-grade iron ore in the central province of Bamiyan, for which bids are required to be submitted by August 3. Shahrani said the winner of the Hajigak contract would be finalised by October.

(more…)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Maritime Security: Indian Government To Allow Armed Guards On Cargo Vessels

Filed under: India,Letter Of Marque,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 1:53 PM

In India, the proposal under consideration is to seek retired navy officers from the pool maintained by the Directorate of Resettlement under the Ministry of Defence. Each vessel can have a group of five armed personnel – one officer and four others. The shipping companies have to bear the cost of hiring the guards.

Already the IMO ruling is helping nations to realize the most logical path towards protection of ships. Put armed guards on boats!

It is interesting that the only folks they will allow to be on these vessels is retired naval officers? And that these guards will be drawn from a ‘pool maintained by the Directorate of Resettlement under the Ministry of Defence‘. India has a huge population and I am sure this pool of retired naval officers is pretty substantial. I am sure they will be happy to make the extra income as well.

With that said, there might be a chance that the demand ‘could’ outweigh the supply of qualified manpower. Or the Indian government might change it’s mind and allow private companies to choose whomever they want to contract with, as opposed to being forced to only draw from one source. The market of force is pretty extensive these days, and if retired Indian Naval Officers are not cutting the mustard, there are other sources.

The other thing here is that there was no mention of licensing?  I would think that the Indians would develop a licensing mechanism for this guard pool? And with that license, I would be curious if there would be any legal provisions dealing with the taking of prisoners or rules of engagement that would be ‘productive’ and not counter-productive? It’s little things like that, that could mean all the difference. We can either have a resource sapping ‘defense industry’ floating around out there or a piracy destroying machine called ‘offense industry’, and licensing and the legal authority backing that action is key.

I am all about ‘Expulsis Piratus, Restituta Commerica‘. With piracy growing at an exponential rate and with no end in sight, this is the kind of ‘thinking’ about the problem that needs to be done. It is not enough to just defend vessels, and eventually an offensive mechanism needs to be created to eradicate this problem. –Matt

Govt to deploy armed guards on board cargo vessels
N. K. Kurup
May 24, 2011
The Government has decided to allow deployment of armed guards – preferably retired naval officers – on board Indian cargo vessels sailing on the pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean, a top government official told Business Line on Tuesday.
Detailed guidelines on the number of guards that each vessel can have will be issued shortly, he said.
In the wake of rising incidents of piracy on the high seas, Indian shipping lines have been seeking government permission to deploy armed guards on board their ships.

(more…)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Maritime Security: Indian Government Considering Allowing Armed Guards On Merchant Ships

Filed under: India,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 11:10 AM

 

India should also take some lessons from Israel. Israeli ships are usually not attacked as they are always prepared to face pirates.

“Israeli seafarers, at their young age, are taught how to fight with pirates with weapons and protect oneself,” added Mr Serang. – Sharad Matade, 03/15/2011

I put that quote up to highlight a pattern I have noticed in the security contracting world. When organizations or countries get desperate in terms of solutions for security matters, they always default to Israel as the source of an answer. lol It’s either that, or a really kick ass salesman from an Israeli maritime security firm got a hold of Mr. Serang and sold him on the ‘Israeli way’.

The article below is the one I wanted to focus on. India is experiencing a surge of pirate attacks and hostage taking, and in turn is also applying the pressure on these pirates. Recently India was able to capture 61 pirates, and fellow pirates have already expressed their ‘displeasure’ with this act.

These thugs said that India should ‘be ready for their citizens to be mistreated in the near future’. With words like that, I would certainly hope that India would consider allowing armed guards to be on merchant vessels. –Matt

Govt considering allowing armed guards on merchant ships

15 Mar, 2011

Faced with increasing incidents of pirate attacks, the government is considering allowing armed guards to be deployed on Indian merchant ships to enable them to retaliate in case of an attempt by sea brigands to take over the vessels.

Sources in the Indian Navy on Tuesday said the government is considering a shipping ministry proposal which talks about allowing armed guards to man merchant ships in order to protect them from pirates.

(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress