Security industry weighs up regulatory options
Two recent initiatives to offer accreditation for security firms operating in the superyacht sector have sparked debate in the industry...…
Private maritime security companies (PMSCs) have seen increasing demand for consultation and security teams aboard commercial vessels and yachts. But not all PMSCs are created equal, and many of the established names in the business have been calling for regulation and certification to ensure high standards of service are maintained.
Two recent initiatives—one from the newly-formed commercial enterprise Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), and another from the UK Aerospace, Defense and Security trade organization’s Security in Complex Environments group (ADS-SCEG)—highlight approaches that will be discussed at the forthcoming Superyacht Security Summit in London on 28 March.
On 1 February, SAMI announced that it had launched an International Accreditation Programme for PMSCs. The company states that its accreditation service would provide security buyers (captains and mangers) a simple means to assess that a security firm is fit for purpose. Its services are equally applicable to the superyacht sector.
“We will provide support across the maritime industry, whether it be commercial shipping, international passenger carriers, superyachts, offshore Oil & Gas installations or Port Facilities,” SAMI’s founder, Peter Cook said.
While security requirements for the superyacht industry are different to commercial shipping, a mechanism to gauge that a PMSC is reputable and capable would seem to be a useful tool for the industry, and one which SAMI hopes will drive their business.
Peter Cook, founder of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI)
“We have already spoken to a number of superyacht companies about the SAMI concept and they are keen to see it become more established and broadly accepted,” Cook said. “The change will not happen immediately but we are confident that over time SAMI will prove that self-regulation of the industry will be extremely effective.”
According to SAMI, the cost of the 3-stage accreditation process will be less than $5,000 (€3,730), excluding expenses for travel. SAMI’s membership now stands at 135 members spread internationally, and according to an internal survey, “a large proportion of these companies are active in superyacht security.”
“Everybody is completely on-line in agreeing within the security industry that we need to be regulated and we need to have a higher standing in terms of transparency,” said Admiral Scott Lidbetter, Chairman of Veritas International, a PMSC active in the superyacht sector. “There are some cowboys out there who could bring the whole sector into disrepute if it goes badly.”
An armed guard patrols a superyacht - image credit to Horst Ruetten
ADS-SCEG is the UK Government's industry partner for the regulation and accreditation of private security providers, and was appointed as Industry Partner by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 21 June 2011 following a stakeholder consultation and an open bidding process. The SCEG includes members of the industry, supply chain companies, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the Department for Transport (DfT).
On 5 March, ADS-SCEG had its inaugural conference at the FCO, attended by 200 representatives of various aspects of the private security sector, including the UK home office, the DfT, ship-owners and PMSCs, including SAMI.
“SAMI has been closely monitoring recent developments within the UK security trade association, ADS Group Ltd, and the announcement by SCEG of on-going work to develop a maritime security standard,” said Steven Jones, Director of SAMI.
“SAMI attended the recent SCEG conference…We recognise that all efforts to achieve accepted standards are important and SAMI’s focus remains on the foundation of a benchmark that is welcomed by the international maritime industry,” Jones said.
Horst Ruetten of the German security providers IBS said he would not be acquiring SAMI accreditation. “The German politicians together with the German Coast Guard will be setting up their own accreditation and certification program and system, and IBS will be one of the first security companies which will be certified,” Ruetten said.
“I myself have worked on this certification process together with the German Cost Guard Piracy Prevention Center. IBS is currently recommended to German-flagged vessels through the German Ministry of Interior. I think that’s a better recommendation to the shipping and yachting industry then membership or accreditation by a commercial organization.”
“MAST have always been at the forefront of standards in the industry and are already voluntarily compliant with the code of conduct,” said Phil Cable of MAST.
“Our main concern has always been that there is consistency in content and approach across the different accreditation bodies. As members of SAMI, we would certainly investigate any accreditation program that adds to the professionalism of the maritime security sector.”
“My feeling, in terms of British security companies, is that once they understand what ADS-SCEG is doing and the connections it has, that will be the go-to association of choice by the sector,” Lidbetter said.
“The big difference between SAMI and what ADS-SCEG is setting out to achieve is that SAMI is working from a commercial basis whereas SCEG is operating as a top-down initiative from UK government to have a regulated industry,” Lidbetter poined out.
“In the last few years, with everyone and his brother becoming a maritime security expert, we simply stopped looking at what the others were doing,” said Patrick Estebe of the security firm AffAirAction.
“But I shall look into SAMI thoroughly and will consider joining them if they pass our own very strict selection test.”
Regulation and certification issues in maritime security will be discussed at the forthcoming Superyacht Security Summit on 28 March. Find the programme for the Superyacht Security Summit here and to reserve your place go to www.superyachtevents.com/registration. The event is held back to back with The Superyacht Fiscal Summit on 29 March with reductions offered to anyone attending both events
Related Links
SAMI Website
Veritas International Profile | Veritas International Website
IBS Website
MAST Profile | MAST Website
AffAirAction Website
Two recent initiatives—one from the newly-formed commercial enterprise Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), and another from the UK Aerospace, Defense and Security trade organization’s Security in Complex Environments group (ADS-SCEG)—highlight approaches that will be discussed at the forthcoming Superyacht Security Summit in London on 28 March.
On 1 February, SAMI announced that it had launched an International Accreditation Programme for PMSCs. The company states that its accreditation service would provide security buyers (captains and mangers) a simple means to assess that a security firm is fit for purpose. Its services are equally applicable to the superyacht sector.
“We will provide support across the maritime industry, whether it be commercial shipping, international passenger carriers, superyachts, offshore Oil & Gas installations or Port Facilities,” SAMI’s founder, Peter Cook said.
While security requirements for the superyacht industry are different to commercial shipping, a mechanism to gauge that a PMSC is reputable and capable would seem to be a useful tool for the industry, and one which SAMI hopes will drive their business.
Peter Cook, founder of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI)
“We have already spoken to a number of superyacht companies about the SAMI concept and they are keen to see it become more established and broadly accepted,” Cook said. “The change will not happen immediately but we are confident that over time SAMI will prove that self-regulation of the industry will be extremely effective.”
According to SAMI, the cost of the 3-stage accreditation process will be less than $5,000 (€3,730), excluding expenses for travel. SAMI’s membership now stands at 135 members spread internationally, and according to an internal survey, “a large proportion of these companies are active in superyacht security.”
“Everybody is completely on-line in agreeing within the security industry that we need to be regulated and we need to have a higher standing in terms of transparency,” said Admiral Scott Lidbetter, Chairman of Veritas International, a PMSC active in the superyacht sector. “There are some cowboys out there who could bring the whole sector into disrepute if it goes badly.”
An armed guard patrols a superyacht - image credit to Horst Ruetten
ADS-SCEG is the UK Government's industry partner for the regulation and accreditation of private security providers, and was appointed as Industry Partner by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 21 June 2011 following a stakeholder consultation and an open bidding process. The SCEG includes members of the industry, supply chain companies, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the Department for Transport (DfT).
On 5 March, ADS-SCEG had its inaugural conference at the FCO, attended by 200 representatives of various aspects of the private security sector, including the UK home office, the DfT, ship-owners and PMSCs, including SAMI.
“SAMI has been closely monitoring recent developments within the UK security trade association, ADS Group Ltd, and the announcement by SCEG of on-going work to develop a maritime security standard,” said Steven Jones, Director of SAMI.
“SAMI attended the recent SCEG conference…We recognise that all efforts to achieve accepted standards are important and SAMI’s focus remains on the foundation of a benchmark that is welcomed by the international maritime industry,” Jones said.
Horst Ruetten of the German security providers IBS said he would not be acquiring SAMI accreditation. “The German politicians together with the German Coast Guard will be setting up their own accreditation and certification program and system, and IBS will be one of the first security companies which will be certified,” Ruetten said.
“I myself have worked on this certification process together with the German Cost Guard Piracy Prevention Center. IBS is currently recommended to German-flagged vessels through the German Ministry of Interior. I think that’s a better recommendation to the shipping and yachting industry then membership or accreditation by a commercial organization.”
“MAST have always been at the forefront of standards in the industry and are already voluntarily compliant with the code of conduct,” said Phil Cable of MAST.
“Our main concern has always been that there is consistency in content and approach across the different accreditation bodies. As members of SAMI, we would certainly investigate any accreditation program that adds to the professionalism of the maritime security sector.”
“My feeling, in terms of British security companies, is that once they understand what ADS-SCEG is doing and the connections it has, that will be the go-to association of choice by the sector,” Lidbetter said.
“The big difference between SAMI and what ADS-SCEG is setting out to achieve is that SAMI is working from a commercial basis whereas SCEG is operating as a top-down initiative from UK government to have a regulated industry,” Lidbetter poined out.
“In the last few years, with everyone and his brother becoming a maritime security expert, we simply stopped looking at what the others were doing,” said Patrick Estebe of the security firm AffAirAction.
“But I shall look into SAMI thoroughly and will consider joining them if they pass our own very strict selection test.”
Regulation and certification issues in maritime security will be discussed at the forthcoming Superyacht Security Summit on 28 March. Find the programme for the Superyacht Security Summit here and to reserve your place go to www.superyachtevents.com/registration. The event is held back to back with The Superyacht Fiscal Summit on 29 March with reductions offered to anyone attending both events
Related Links
SAMI Website
Veritas International Profile | Veritas International Website
IBS Website
MAST Profile | MAST Website
AffAirAction Website
NEW: Sign up for SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.
NEW: Sign up for
SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
