Best Maritime Security Companies In the World
Seas are full of dangers be it natural or manmade. Ships carry a lot of valuable cargo and personnel. One frequently hears news about Somalian sea pirates hijacking commercial ships.
It is essential to provide the highest level of security to protect the cargo, sailors, ship, and travelers. And this comes in the form of specialized maritime security companies also called MSCs.
Thefts and piracy are real threats which need to be countered at all costs. Since a large percentage of the world’s trade is conducted through the ocean – be it oil or steel – shipping companies cannot afford the risk of their ships been attacked by pirates or thieves.
Also read: ISPS Code: History, Objectives, Levels, and Requirements of ISPS Code
For this reason, maritime security officers are present onboard every ship today. Marine security officers deal with maintaining peace and security on board a vessel and protect the passengers and the cargo of the boat from activities like piracy.
These officers are appointed to their respective ships by the company that they work for. The companies that offer onboard security services are called as Maritime Security Companies. They ensure the security of the staff, the passengers and the assets of the ship.
Nowadays, Maritime Security Companies not only provide on and offshore security but also other services like training and consultancy. There are many such companies in the world. Every ship that sets out on a voyage wants to ensure its security, and thus Maritime Security Companies play a major role in the shipping industry.
This article discusses some of the many major Maritime Security Companies (MSCs) of the world.
Following are 11 such companies offering maritime security services explained in brief.
1. Seagull Maritime Security
The Seagull Maritime Security Company is one of the major maritime security company of its kind. It was established in 2008. The company is based in Malta. It provides several maritime security services like anti-piracy services and ensuring the security of voyages from beginning to end. It also has a wide range of other maritime security services that they provide.
The company mainly provides services to commercial merchant ships as well as other vessels that pass through the high-risk areas generally in the regions of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. They secure goods on these ships as well as seafarers.
The company recruits the people who have previously served in the Navy as commandos or in elite special operation units. They need to be trained and qualified in order to provide security and fight off threats at sea. Most importantly, they need to be able to deal with maritime piracy.
This company has offices in many parts of the world. The company has been successful in providing security to hundreds of sea voyages and have battled several pirate attacks all over the world.
2. Neptune Maritime Security
The Neptune Maritime Security Company is a maritime security company that offers services to commercial vessels, super yachts, cruise ships, ports, and terminals as well as oil and gas industries. It is one of the biggest companies in the world that offers maritime security services. Neptune has highly experienced security experts and aims to keep people, assets as well as organizations safe. It has more than 350 qualified and experienced personnel. The company also has bases in countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates which provide services to clients for all 24 hours of the day.
It is a unique company as it provides customized maritime protection against maritime piracy. It also offers its services depending on the extent of a security threat.
The company has carried out more than 4000 successful transits. It has also been rated 94 out of 100 for client satisfaction.
It mainly operates in high-risk areas such as those in the Indian Ocean and the West African Gulf of Guinea.
3. MUSC
MUSC stands for Maritime and Underwater Security Consultant. The company has been providing maritime security to its clients for over 37 years. It was founded in 1973 and is based in London, United Kingdom. MUSC is one of the largest maritime security firms in the world. It provides a wide range of security services like anti-piracy security, port security, ship security, and other services to shipping companies. The company also provides protection for equipment like pipelines. It also ensures proper disposal of explosive materials that the ships might be carrying.
The government of the United Kingdom has licensed this company. It has been authorized to provide armed security services such as security teams on board, vessel hardening, route planning, counter-piracy auditing, and even vessel monitoring.
The company also offers training to provide these security services. It also acts as a consultant regarding the same matter. The company firmly stands against illegal activities like threats of weapons, human trafficking, drug smuggling, illegal immigration and many more. It also provides services related to safeguarding the marine environment.
4. Hudson Analytix
Hudson Analytix is a leading maritime security company. The company is based in Piraeus, Greece. The security program that it offers is a four way, and it provides services to shipping companies, ports, commercial vessels as well as onboard security services. Not only does the company provide security services but also services such as planning or training programs, assessments, security consulting services, etc. It also ensures complete security support to its clients.
This is one of the world’s biggest maritime security companies and offers its services in many countries. They offer services in as many as 300 ports all over the world and have till date provided their services to more than 1800 vessels. It is an internationally Recognised Security Organisation or RSO.
The company provides the services to vessels like general cargo, bulk carriers, offshore vessels, oil or chemical tankers, RO-RO containers and FPSOs.
The cyber risk management department of the company also provides the tools, support and necessary equipment that is needed to understand how to manage cyber risk and ensure security in that field as well.
5. Hart Maritime
Hart Maritime is a part of the Hart Integrated Group. It is often considered as one of the most established maritime security companies of the world. Hart integrated group was established in 1999. It offers many maritime protection services including onshore as well as offshore protection.
They mainly deal with security during shipping and also provide services to companies onshore to protect their assets and ensure the safety of their employees from threats such as pirate attacks. They try their best to maintain peace and security by making sure that security and risk mitigation is effective. To do the same, Hart Maritime Securities sometimes even work with the Navy and coast guard services. They ensure the security of every project that they take up at every single stage of it.
The company also provides training for the service that it offers to government authorities as well as shipping conglomerates. They mainly offer services in regions like the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Guinea and South East Asia.
6. Solace Global
Solace Global is one of the world’s biggest Maritime security companies that aims to “protect people, assets, and reputation through state-of-the-art technology.” This firm is accredited by the ISO and has extensive experience in this field. The company offers various kinds of security services and carries out operations like anti-piracy operations. It has done so for more than 5000 vessels all over the world and operates in 191 countries across the planet.
They provide services to commercial shipping companies, oil majors, cruise liners and even superyacht owners.
Some of the services offered by the company include vessel protection, ship security audits, a maritime security consultancy, a naval intelligence, vessel tracking, and crew training. These are only some of the many services that the company provides.
The company claims to provide both on and on armed security operations and solutions. It offers total desktop risk assessments, risk consultancy, onsite security audits as well as vessel tracking to its clients.
According to the company, it spends more than 1.5 million men are carrying out their job in a year and provides services for all 24 hours of the day.
7. Maritime Asset Security Training (MAST)
MAST stands for Maritime Asset Security Training. It is one of the world’s biggest maritime security firms. Its main aim is “to make the world a safer place to live and work.” Phillip Cable and Philip Batty founded the company.
The company is known to provide cost-effective security services all over the world. It was also one of the very first security companies that legally house private armed guards on vessels such as private yachts or ships of the merchant navy. It also offers consultancy and supports new perspectives on risk management and provides information related to security services and risk management as well.
MAST has conducted more than 6000 transits without any failures in security.
The company mainly offers services in high-risk areas such as the Red Sea the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Guinea, the Sulu Sea, etc. The company has offices in many countries such as South Africa, Djibouti, Oman, and Malta.
8. Securewest International
Securewest International is a security service providing company that provides maritime security services to civilian ships and vessels as well as naval and military vessels. It was established in 1987. The company provides services such as vessel tracking, architectural security, ship accompaniment, etc. It provides all the services for commercial vessels cruises, military departments as well as offshore companies. The ISO has also certified it.
The main areas that it operates in are the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, The Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Guinea, etc.
Securewest International is one of the world’s biggest maritime security companies.
The company has highly experienced maritime security personnel working for it, and it always ensures its security to the clients. It is also known to provide security services to advanced escort vessels and is highly recognized in the world.
Securewest is famous in the world for its counter-piracy measures and preparatory services for ISPS. It is also part of the SCEG which stands for Security and Complex Environment Group.
It also provides training courses which are approved by agencies such as the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
9. Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Services
Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Services is an association of the VST that is Veterans of Special Troops. It is known to provide services to big organizations and assets. It provides security to large vessels as well as yachts. Other services provided by the group are port facilities, support in energy sectors, support in the oil and gas industry, etc.
The group operates in areas like the Indian Ocean, The Red Sea the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the West coast of Africa and the Mozambique channel.
It provides security services to bulk carriers, fishing ships, cruise ships, petroleum tankers, yachts, super yachts, etc.
The group employees highly trained and professional personnel like former Marines or special troops. It also provides training services to port operators and vessel owners to ensure the security of assets and staff from threats like piracy.
10. ESPADA
The ESPADA is one of the biggest Maritime security providing companies in the whole world. It is a prominent security provider and carries out expert security measures, logistic processes as well as emergency evacuation as a part of their maritime operation both on land and at sea.
The company is known for its highly qualified military and civilian expertise in providing maritime security and conducting anti-piracy operations all around the world. It is a unique company as it not only carries out anti-piracy operations but also runs a counter-terrorism and asset protection programme. They also help commercial ships to transit through areas which are considered as high-risk regions. It operates in the region such as the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The company has carried out more than 500 successful transit in treacherous and dangerous sea routes all over the world.
11. STS Maritime Security
The STS Maritime Security company or the Special Tactical Services Security Company is a business that has extensive experience and expertise in providing security as well as weapons, tactical training, munitions, and ballistic security to vessels all over the world. It especially provides these services to the United States Defence Services and also other militaries all over the world.
The security teams that the company provides are highly trained, professional and licensed. The company also manages governmental permits, logistical support, administrative interface and security operations for clients all over the world.
It provides security teams which are privately owned to protect assets and the crew of the ship from some threats such as piracy.
STS has offices all over the world and operates on various sea routes. It is known to provide security services to the US Flagged RORO fleets in HRW. The company also protects bulk carriers traveling to East Africa. It offers services to several other countries too.
