Firing Away

In a rather surprising admission, one maritime security provider has spoken out at length in Lloyd’s List on the growing number of unreported negligent discharges of weapons by private armed security guards.

The revelations have been made by head of  a private maritime security company, amid calls for greater regulation of the sector.

“There have been loads of negligent discharges that haven’t been reported and if insurers knew what was really going on they would pull their finger out and push for regulation, because currently shipowners are putting their ships and crew at risk,” the PMSC boss reportedly said, according to Lloyd’s List .

Regulation of the private maritime security sector was now required urgently, he added. As yet he believes there are no formal or international standards to which a firm offering an armed service has to adhere, and it is up to the shipowners’ discretion who they employ.