Shipping Ministry Issues Guidelines for Deployment of Armed Guards in Indian Merchant Ships

The Ministry of Shipping has issued Guidelines regarding deployment of armed guards in Indian Merchant Ships as a part of the various steps undertaken by the Government to combat the piracy in Gulf of Aden.

The Ministry considered the fact that about 35% 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.

The Guidelines have accordingly been issued by the Ministry of Shipping in consultation with DG (Shipping), MEA, MoD, MHA, D/o Revenue (CBEC), Indian Navy & Coast Guard. As per these guidelines the ship owners are allowed to engage Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC), who are properly selected and vetted. All Indian ships visiting Indian ports are to furnish details of security personnel on board, the fire–arms carried by them and the details of license issued etc. to the Port authority, Customs, Coast Guard & the Navy. Foreign merchant vessels visiting Indian ports with security guards are also required to follow similar procedure.

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Source: Ministry of Shipping, August 30, 2011;