Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
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LQJ ODZV DQG UHJXODWLRQV IRU WKH 8 6 ÁHHW ZKLFK LQ most cases included either obtaining a temporary export license, or a personal-use exemption to carry such weapons. Armed security personnel. To address maritime industry's questions and concerns about privately contracted armed security personnel, guidelines were developed that deal with minimum standards for these teams. PSA 5-09, published in June 2009, out- lines minimum competencies as well as credential- ing, licensing, and training requirements expected IRU DUPHG VHFXULW\ SHUVRQQHO RQ 8 6 ÁDJJHG YHVVHOV 3 Subsequent port security advisories continued, deal- ing with: • SURFHGXUHV IRU REWDLQLQJ D QDPH EDVHG FKHFN IRU security personnel (PSA 6-09), • IRUHLJQ SRUW VWDWH UHVSRQVHV WR UHTXHVWV IRU LQIRU- mation regarding rules for carriage and transport of weapons (PSA 8-09), • H[SHFWHG FRXUVHV RI DFWLRQ IROORZLQJ DQ DWWDFN (PSA 9-09). MARSEC Directive 104-6 had been revised a total of ÀYH WLPHV E\ 5HYLVLRQ QXPEHU WKUHH HQFRXUDJHG use of industry best management practices, revision IRXU SURYLGHG DGGLWLRQDO FODULÀFDWLRQ IRU 8 6 ÁDJJHG vessels berthed or anchored in high-risk waters, and UHYLVLRQ ÀYH LQFRUSRUDWHG PRUH SHUIRUPDQFH EDVHG standards and expanded high-risk waters to account for the growing area of pirate operations in the Indian Ocean. All Coast Guard-issued direction and guidance con- tinues to be monitored, revised, or developed as nec- essary to ensure continuing usefulness, in close coor- dination with U.S. government interagency partners and maritime industry stakeholders. Future Plans The U.S. Coast Guard has been actively engaged at the IMO and with the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to help protect the world's ship- SLQJ ÁHHW ZKLOH GHYHORSLQJ DQG PRQLWRULQJ LWV RZQ FRXQWHU SLUDF\ SURJUDP WR SURWHFW 8 6 ÁDJJHG PHU- chant ships. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard and MARAD co-chair CGPCS Working Group 3 (WG3), The entire U.S. vessel security program for counter-piracy and informative links to other sources of information are posted on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport website at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/piracy which is responsible for improving industry self- awareness, monitoring best management practices development and dissemination, and shepherding guidance regarding the protection and care of seafar- ers. At the next plenary meeting, this chairmanship will be handed from the U.S. to the Republic of Korea. The scourge of piracy is expected to continue and HYROYH 7KHUHIRUH ÁDJ FRDVWDO DQG SRUW VWDWHV QRQ governmental organizations; and the maritime indus- try must also evolve to meet the latest threats. Most recently, WG3 is coordinating two projects: • D IUDPHZRUN WR LPSURYH ÁDJ VWDWH LPSOHPHQWD- tion of avoidance, evasion, and defensive best practices; • JXLGDQFH IRU VHFXULW\ FRPSDQLHV UHJDUGLQJ WKH use of privately contracted armed security per- sonnel. About the author: CDR Lee Boone has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for nearly 20 years, most recently at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters. As the chief RI WKH 'RPHVWLF 9HVVHO &RPSOLDQFH; 'LYLVLRQ KH KDV EHHQ DFWLYHO\ working with U.S. Coast Guard leadership, U.S. government inter- agency partners, international working groups, and U.S. commer- cial vessel operators to assess, design, and adapt a vessel security program tailored to counter the threat of piracy, and to protect U.S. merchant vessels and seafarers. Endnotes: 1. A non-sensitive version of MARSEC directive 104-6 is available in Port Security Advisory 2-09, posted on homeport.uscg.mil/piracy. 2. PSA 3-09 again proved its viability when, pursuant to Section 912 of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act, Congress provided immunity to vessel owners, operators, time charterers, masters, mariners, or individu- als who use or authorize the use of force against pirates, if such force was in accordance with standard rules for the use of force. 3. In creating and disseminating this guidance, the U.S. stopped short of HVWDEOLVKLQJ D FHUWLÀFDWLRQ UHJLPH IRU VHFXULW\ WHDPV D IXQFWLRQ WKDW ZDV GHWHUPLQHG EHVW DQG PRVW HIÀFLHQWO\ SHUIRUPHG XQGHU 8 6 PDUNHW IRUFHV Almost two years after it was published, as the international community warmed to the idea of using armed security teams, the U.S. delegation to International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee helped develop interim guidance. For more INFORMATION 26 Proceedings Spring 2012 www.uscg.mil/proceedings