Armed Security Personnel on board Panama flagged vessels transiting High Risk Areas (MMC – 245)

This Merchant Marine Circular supersedes and compiles MMC-228; MMC-231; MMC234; MMC-286 and MMC-306.

The purpose of this circular is to listed the private security companies authorized by the PMA to provide the service of armed personnel on board Panamanian flagged vessels, as well as the recommendations and policies that they must comply during their accreditation.

The Maritime Safety Committee at its 89th Session approved the Interim recommendation regarding the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) on board ships in the high risk area as per the MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2, MSC.1/Circ.1406/Rev.3 and MSC.1/Circ.1443 (for reference visit Maritime Security link, F-33 (DCCM) V.04 IMO Documents). All ship-owners and ship-operators when entering into a contract with a PMSC should ensure compliance with the MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2. (3.1.1)

The use of PCASP should not be considered as an alternative to Best Management Practices version 5 (BMP5) and other protective measures. It is recommended that BMP be applied throughout the High Risk Area (HRA) and in the Internationally Recommended
Transit Corridor (IRTC) and be considered as the first, minimum, preventative option. Placing armed guards on board as a means to secure and protect the ship and its crew should only be considered after a risk assessment has been carried out. (3.1.3)

The Panama Maritime Authority has recognized the following companies as PMSC which are authorized to grant the use of security, armed or unarmed personnel on board the Panamanian flag vessels to transit exclusively in High Risk Areas, which are described in our MMC-230 (3.1.4):

1. BRITANNIA MARITIME SECURITY LTD.
2. SECURE A SHIP LIMITED.
3. AMBREY LIMITED (Principal Company)
   3.1 AMBREY RISK LIMITED (Subsidiary company)
   3.2 AMBREY SERVICES DMCC (Subsidiary company)
4. PORT 2 PORT MARITIME SECURITY LIMITED (Principal Company)
   4.1. NEPTUNE MARITIME SECURITY GROUP LTD. (Subsidiary company)
5. SEA GUARDIAN S.G. LIMITED
6. DIAPLOUS MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED.
7. AEGIS INTERNATIONAL INC.
8. UNITED GUARDS SERVICES LIMITED.
9. HR MARITIME CONSULTANTS LTD.
10. MARITIME DEFENCE FORCE LTD.
11. EMERGENCY MANEUVERING LANKA (PVT) LTD.
12. THE TRIDENT GROUP, INC.
13. MARITIME ASSET SECURITY AND TRAINING (MAST) LTD.
14. OU ESC (ESC GLOBAL SECURITY).
15. SALAMA FIKIRA INTERNATIONAL (UK) LIMITED (Principal Company)
    15.1 SALAMA FIKIRA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (Subsidiary company)
16. LSS, LTD.
17. SINOGUARDS MARINE SECURITY LIMITED
18. HUA XIN ZHONG AN (BEIJING) SECURITY SERVICE CO., LTD.
19. SEAGULL MARITIME LTD.
20. BLACK PEARL MARITIME SECURITY MANAGEMENT LIMITED.
21. TRIAENA MARITIME SECURITY LIMITED.
22. CASTOR VALI LTD.
23. PREMIUMFOCUS NAUTILUS LTD.
24. SEAGULL MARITIME LIMITED.
25. AL SAFINA SECURITY SERVICES LTD.
26. ALFA MARINE PROTECTION LIMITED.
27. ZEAL GLOBAL MARITIME SOLUTIONS.
28. ESS&SA MARITIME B.V.
29. PROTECTION VESSELS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
30. UNIVERSAL MARITIME SOLUTIONS (BVI) LIMITED.
31. EOS RISK MANAGEMENT LIMITED
32. MARINE ONE PRIVATE LIMITED
33. ROKADA SECURITY SERVICES LLC

Any Private Security Company duly authorized by this Administration and posted in this Merchant Marine Circular, may only request transit authorizations with the name with which it was authorized, therefore, the contract that must be attached as part of the pre established requirements, must have the seal and name approved in this circular. This Administration will not approve any authorization with a change of name, which is not previously authorized by this Administration. (3.1.5)