STRENGTHENING PRIVATE SECURITY’S ROLE IN THE MARITIME SECTOR

As international actors in the maritime sector explore new frontiers and opportunities, securing shipping routes and port infrastructures is back on the agenda. Ensuring responsible security practices has to be part of this conversation.

With this in mind, ICoCA’s Executive Director, Jamie Williamson, attended “Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue”, an event co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which took place on 18–19 November 2024 in India.

As the maritime sector faces complex challenges, ranging from the resurgence of piracy and geopolitical tensions to the impacts of climate change, it is clear that responsible security cannot remain an afterthought. Securing new maritime frontiers demands an integrated approach, combining innovative solutions to safeguard human rights, sustain the global supply chain and maintain security.

In the late 2000s, a surge in piracy from the Gulf of Aden to the Strait of Malacca underscored the need for effective collaboration between the international community and private security. ICoCA and the International Maritime Organization played a key role in shaping the standards for private security in the maritime domain, ensuring accountability and protecting those working at sea.

Today, as new risks emerge globally, from declining traffic in critical waterways to direct attacks on ships, the lessons of the past remain vital. Sagarmanthan provides a platform to address these challenges, fostering inclusive and forward-thinking conversations on maritime governance, security and sustainability.

ICoCA’s participation underscores our commitment to advancing high standards in the maritime sector, ensuring security practices align with both industry ambitions and the protection of human rights.

Read Jamie Williamson’s conference paper: Navigating new frontiers: Security, human rights, and the role of private security in the maritime sector.