THE RISE OF PRIVATE MARITIME SECURITY COMPANIES

A Look at the Use of Maritime Security Guards by David Isenberg

The number of companies who have jumped into the deep blue sea to offer armed guards and other private security services for commercial shippers who fear pirate attacks has risen sharply the past few years. Many new companies have been formed in this area since 2008 and many existing PSCs have refocused on maritime security. Land based private security has vacillated between being called private military companies (PMCs) or private security companies (PSCs). All have been faced with media scrutiny, controversy and varying degrees of helpful and unhelpful legislation. Although the provision of lethal force by private services rather than government services neither new or even unexpected on land it seems to be more complicated on the ocean and in international waters.

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David Isenberg is the author of 'Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq'