France: Bureau Veritas, Securymind Join Forces for Anti-Piracy Initiative

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has joined forces with French maritime security consultants Securymind to provide an auditing and verification service for companies providing armed guards to protect ships against piracy.

Security companies offering services to shipping will be audited against the requirements set down by the “Scheme for Quality Management Systems of Private Maritime Security Companies” established by Bureau Veritas and Securymind. The scheme is based on IMO guidance set out in MSC1405 “Revised Interim Guidance To Shipowners, Ship Operators, and Shipmasters on the Use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in The High Risk Area”.

Security companies which meet these standards will be issued with an attestation by Bureau Veritas and will be listed in the BV Register of Private Maritime Security Companies.

Roberto Nahon, Head of Systems Certification and Training Department, Bureau Veritas, says, “Shipowners have experienced that armed guards are an effective deterrent to pirate attack. However there are very many international security companies offering these guards, and not all of them can be relied on to meet the right internationally agreed standards. That is why Bureau Veritas has put its auditing and maritime experience together with the security experience of Securymind to provide a service which will help owners to identify and choose from reliable and bona-fide security firms when selecting who will guard their ships.”

Securymind is a consultancy company specialised in security engineering, dedicated to the protection of people, assets and projects. Founded by Luc Alloin, former superior officer of the Marine Special Forces, Securymind also employs a former chief of the Special Command Forces, the Admiral (2S) Pierre Martinez. Specialized in big projects in security, in particular those in the maritime domain, Securymind is one of the very few security organizations (RSO) recognized by the French Administration.