Norms to deploy armed guards on merchant ships

The Central Government has issued guidelines for deployment of armed guards on board merchant ships by the ship owners to combat piracy, Parliament was informed recently.

“The guidelines have been issued for deployment of armed guards on board merchant ships by the ship owners concerned,” Mr. G. K. Vasan, Minister of Shipping, said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The guidelines, among other things, pertain to criteria for engaging private maritime security companies, armed security guards, team size equipment, command and control of onboard security teams, reporting and record keeping.

“The Government has constituted an inter-ministerial group of officers to deal with any hostage situation arising out of the hijacking, at sea, of merchant vessels with Indian crew on board,” Mr. Vasan said. The Government has already tabled a Piracy Bill in the Lok Sabha in April 2012 which envisages prosecution of pirates. The Bill has also been examined by the Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the Ministry of External Affairs, he added.

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