--- title: Vessel Protection - Floating Armouries and the Law on individuals description: Discover the challenges and solutions of using Floating Armouries to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean. Learn about the legal and logistical concerns surrounding armed guards on commercial vessels. image: https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/hubfs/Floating%20Armouries/SINBAD%20floating%20armoury%20twitter.jpeg --- ###### 9 min read # Vessel Protection - Floating Armouries and the Law on individuals By: [ Dryad Global ](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/author/dryad-global) on August 31, 2020 at 11:58 AM [KnowledgeHub](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/tag/knowledgehub) [floating armouries](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/tag/floating-armouries) - [**](https://twitter.com/GlobalDryad) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dryad-global/) - [**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZSIjPkeq7iDcsj4r9TF9mg?sub_confirmation=1) ![Featured Image](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/hubfs/Floating%20Armouries/SINBAD%20floating%20armoury%20twitter.jpeg) There are three main legal and regulatory angles regarding the people involved in floating armoury operations: labour laws, arms trading laws, and long arm laws. Here we look in more detail at all three. #### Here you will find: - [How does the Maritime Labour Convention impact on individuals working on floating armouries?](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law-on-individuals#mlc) - [How do ARMS Trading Laws apply to individuals working on floating armouries?](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law-on-individuals#armstrading) - [What is a Long Arm law and how does it apply?](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law-on-individuals#longarm) [More on this series....](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law-on-individuals#nextarticle) ###### The Maritime Labour Convention     The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) was established through a collaborative international effort to amalgamate the principles of SOLAS and UNCLOS, aiming to provide a safe and secure working environment, fair employment terms, and adequate living conditions for all seafarers. Seafarers onboard a Floating Armoury (FA) should be safeguarded under the MLC. However, the Private Maritime Security Company (PMSC) personnel accommodated on an FA fall into a different category. While PCASPs are on duty, flag states typically classify them as supernumeraries. Since the MLC specifically pertains to crew members, it may not extend to PCASPs aboard their client vessels. On the FA, PCASP personnel are typically categorized as either passengers or "industrial personnel," falling under the IMO's classification for Special Purpose Vessels. Consequently, the MLC does not directly apply to them. Therefore, the MLC's jurisdiction over FAs is primarily limited to the crew onboard the FA. Under the MLC, seafarers are subject to a comprehensive set of regulations, including:   - Minimum age requirements for seafarers to work on a ship   - Conditions of employment   - Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering standards   - Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection   - Compliance and enforcement   - The current flag States for FAs that have registered FAs and ratified the MLC are Mongolia and Saint Kitts and Nevis; Djibouti and Sierra Leone are not signatories of the MLC.    > On the FA, PCASP personnel are typically categorized as either passengers or "industrial personnel," falling under the IMO's classification for Special Purpose Vessels. Consequently, the MLC does not directly apply to them.   1. MLC 2006 Article II   Except as expressly provided otherwise, this Convention applies to all seafarers. 2. In the event of doubt as to whether any categories of persons are to be regarded as seafarers for the purpose of this Convention, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned with this question. 3. Except as expressly provided otherwise, this Convention applies to all ships, whether publicly or privately owned, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, other than ships engaged in fishing or in similar pursuits and ships of traditional build such as dhows and junks. This Convention does not apply to warships or naval auxiliaries.   4. In the event of doubt as to whether this Convention applies to a ship or particular category of ships, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.   5. Where the competent authority determines that it would not be reasonable or practicable at the present time to apply certain details of the Code referred to in Article VI, paragraph 1, to a ship or particular categories of ships flying the flag of the Member, the relevant provisions of the Code shall not apply to the extent that the subject matter is dealt with differently by national laws or regulations or collective bargaining agreements or other measures. Such a determination may only be made in consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned and may only be made with respect to ships of less than 200 gross tonnage not engaged in international voyages.   ###### Arms Trading Laws   A number of international laws have provisions that apply to individuals relating to arms trading. While the ATT and the Protocol to the Palermo Convention have been discussed extensively above, the requirements of the ATT (article 10) and the Firearms Protocol (article 13) that states regulate brokering are particularly relevant to FA operations. The bookings and facilitations that occur on an FA could be considered brokering under the arms trading laws and may therefore be regulated under the national laws of either the individuals or the flag state. The concepts of “third country brokering” and “extraterritorial brokering” appear in some national laws and are particularly applicable to FA operations where nationals of different states engage in brokering activities on a vessel flagged in a state of which none of the individuals are citizens.   Protocol to Palermo:   Article 15. Brokers and brokering   1. With a view to preventing and combating illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, States Parties that have not yet done so shall consider establishing a system for regulating the activities of those who engage in brokering. Such a system could include one or more measures such as:  (a) Requiring registration of brokers operating within their territory;   (b) Requiring licensing or authorization of brokering; or   (c) Requiring disclosure on import and export licences or authorizations, or accompanying documents, of the names and locations of brokers involved in the transaction.   2. States Parties that have established a system of authorization regarding brokering as set forth in paragraph 1 of this article are encouraged to include information on brokers and brokering in their exchanges of information under article 12 of this Protocol and to retain records regarding brokers and brokering in accordance with article 7 of this Protocol. ###### Long Arm Laws   Furthermore, it is essential to recognize that the citizenship of individuals can bring about the application of national laws beyond the borders of the state. This implies that laws concerning criminal activities, arms trading, and other related matters may impact specific individuals on Floating Armouries solely based on their nationality. While the enforcement of these laws falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the relevant state, it is plausible that one individual could be found in violation of their national law while engaging in activities aboard a Floating Armoury, even if their counterparts' actions are not deemed illegal under their own country's legal framework..     The Next Knowledge Hub Article on this subject.... ###### 84 min read #### [Vessel Protection -Floating Armouries - Legislation](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-legislation) In this article, we collect the key regulations governing the operation of floating armouries. UNCLOS Articles 17-19... ###### 15 min read #### [Vessel Protection - Floating Armouries and the Law](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law) Floating armouries, which store weapons for Private Maritime Security Companies, operate under a patchwork of... ###### 22 min read #### [Vessel Protection - Floating Armouries and the Law SERVICES](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law-services) Delving into the complex operations of Floating Armouries, this mini-series explores the legal framework that governs... ###### 26 min read #### [Vessel Protection - Floating Armouries and the Law on individuals](https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/archive/vessel-protection-floating-armouries-and-the-law-on-individuals) There are three main legal and regulatory angles regarding the people involved in floating armoury operations: labour... See for yourself how Dryad Global can help your organisation. 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