Security Management Policy

Our Policies

Security Management Policy

Black Pearl Maritime Security Management Limited is a UK-registered Private Maritime Security Company (PMSC) providing armed and unarmed security teams to merchant vessels transiting High Risk Areas. This Security Management Policy sets out our overarching commitment to delivering security services that are safe, lawful, proportionate and effective. It applies to every director, employee, contracted operative and supplier acting on our behalf, ashore and at sea, and forms the cornerstone of our integrated management system certified to ISO 9001 and ISO/PAS 28007-1:2015.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the protection of vessels, their crews and cargoes against piracy, armed robbery and other unlawful acts is achieved without compromising the safety of any person or the lawful conduct of operations. Our services are delivered in full alignment with the ISPS Code, relevant IMO circulars including MSC.1/Circ.1405, MSC.1/Circ.1406 and MSC.1/Circ.1443, the current edition of the Best Management Practices (BMP) for protection against piracy, and the principles of the Montreux Document and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC).

Our Commitments

We are committed to operating lawfully in every jurisdiction and within the flag State requirements applicable to each vessel we protect. We will only deploy personnel who have been rigorously vetted, are appropriately trained and competent, and are medically and psychologically fit for duty in a hostile maritime environment. The use of force is governed by clear, vessel-specific Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) that emphasise graduated response, the right to self-defence and the protection of human life, with lethal force used only as a last resort where there is an imminent threat to life.

• Conduct a documented threat and risk assessment before every deployment and review it as the situation evolves.
• Provide each team with an unambiguous chain of command, embarkation and disembarkation plans, and agreed Rules for the Use of Force.
• Maintain the lawful movement, storage and accounting of firearms and ammunition through licensed floating armouries and compliant logistics partners.
• Report all security incidents, weapons discharges and near-misses to the Master, the flag State, the company and relevant reporting centres without delay.
• Carry appropriate liability insurance for all armed and unarmed operations.

Roles, Responsibilities and Authority

Overall accountability for security management rests with the Board of Directors, which appoints a senior manager responsible for the maintenance and continual improvement of this policy. Team Leaders hold delegated operational authority during deployment and are responsible for the conduct and welfare of their teams, while always recognising the overriding authority of the Master for the safety of the vessel. Every individual has both the authority and the duty to stop or refuse any task that cannot be carried out safely or lawfully.

Compliance, Monitoring and Review

Compliance with this policy is monitored through internal audit, post-deployment debriefs, incident investigation and management review. Findings feed directly into our corrective-action and continual-improvement processes so that lessons learned strengthen future operations. We cooperate fully with flag States, coastal States, certification bodies and lawful investigations into any incident in which our personnel are involved.

This Security Management Policy is reviewed at least annually, and whenever there is a significant change in legislation, threat picture or operational practice. It is communicated to all personnel and made available to clients and other interested parties on request.