ABSTRACT
The use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) onboard merchant vessels is today a widely accepted measure to protect ships from attacks by Somali pirates. The large-scale employment of private military and security companies (PMSCs) 1 to provide armed guards is a new phenomenon, given that the armament of merchant ships was until recently rejected by the shipping industry, governments, and international (maritime) organizations. This chapter traces the short history of the employment of PMSCs at sea, with particular attention being paid to armed anti-piracy services – the most prominent services provided by PMSCs in the maritime sphere at present. It will be argued that even though these companies play an increasingly important role in security governance, the maritime environment poses specific challenges for regulators, resulting in some PMSC’s activities being left unmonitored. The specific challenges PMSCs and regulators face when private security providers operate at sea will be highlighted in the discussion of anti-piracy services conducted by PCASP.
