Silver Lining

According to a report released on August 12, the maritime security business in the Indian Ocean is booming as ships turn to private military security companies (PMSC) to help in the fight against piracy.

The PMSC Silver Lining in the Indian Ocean Cloud

 By David Isenberg, The Huffington Post

As the saying goes, there is a silver lining in every cloud. So, if you happen to be in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa that lining means that the maritime security business in the Indian Ocean is booming as ships turn to private military security companies (PMSC) to help in the fight against piracy, according to a report released on August 12.

Just how good is it? Some key findings from the report, “Pirates and privateers: managing the Indian Ocean’s private security boom” published by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, are:

Over 140 companies now provide armed protection for ships in the Indian Ocean. At least 2700 individual contractors are employed as armed guards on ships and 18 floating armouries are operating in waters near the Gulf of Aden.

40 private armed patrol boats are now, or will soon be, operating in the Indian Ocean. The most sophisticated of these private navies is outfitting three large boats in Singapore — each with a crew of 20, capable of carrying 40 private marines, and equipped with a helicopter and drones.

Additionally, there are plans for more than 2000 European military personnel to be privately hired to shipping as vessel protection detachments.

These numbers are likely low. According to the report’s author James Brown, “[And] this number is increasing. A large British PMSC increased contractor……[access full article]

Also see: Pirates and Privateers