Anti Piracy and Maritime Security Experts

Poseidon Maritime Operations is the specialist maritime security wing of David Lawrence Security. We pride ourselves on our experience and expertise in advising and implementing new dynamic training and operational strategies and solutions to the commercial and private shipping, offshore oil and gas industry. Our maritime security and investigative personnel derive from elements of the Royal Military Police, Royal Marine Commandos and other specialist units of the British & other International armed forces, bringing a wealth of knowledge and diverse languages together. All of our operational maritime security professionals are dedicated in delivering an effective and bespoke security plan for your vessel or installation.

Our operational maritime corporate security solutions and training capabilities have been implemented as a direct result of the growing number of piracy attacks throughout the world, from piracy off Somalia in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean to West Africa and south East Asia. With our proven techniques in protective and passive procedures we can minimise and mitigate the risks associated with terrorism and criminal activity. By providing a rapid response and cost effective solution, we can facilitate an increase in productivity and increased profits. Using anti piracy maritime security solutions and intelligence analysts we can perceive the very latest threats and real time security updates and knowledge of any given area, ensuring your organisation will have the very best that the maritime security industry has to offer.

Anti piracy and maritime security services include, but are not exhaustive to the following;

• Implementation of specialist maritime security personnel & services;

Maritime Security Officers (MSO)

Specifically trained security guard teams will escort, advise and gain real time intelligence and threat assessments to mitigate the risk to Master and crew onboard vessels that will be transiting through high risk areas, like the Gulf of Aden and West Africa. Our security team will utilise the latest Anti Piracy passive security procedures and training so that the security team and crew can work together to deter and defend the vessel from any potential attack by pirates.

Port Security Officers (PSO)

Gate and sentry security personnel to control all assess and guarding elements of the port or installation, including; CCTV, intruder and fire monitoring , screening of work based and visiting personnel, vehicles and equipment of contractors, freight, containers and port buildings. In addition we have highly trained dog and handler patrol teams that specialise in guarding or search of explosives, weapons and drugs.

Security Search Dive Teams.

Some vessels or Yachts could be targeted by terrorists or activists; Poseidon Operations can supply experienced security dive search personnel on request to shipping companies and their owners of most merchant vessels; including super yachts and cruise line vessels. The diver can search the water line and underside of the hull in order to ascertain if any explosive device(s) have been planted. If an explosive device is discovered, our teams will evacuate the vessel and the immediate area and set up a cordon, they will then inform the local police and continue to liaise with them until the device has been made safe.

Maritime Security Liaison Officers (MSLO)

Poseidon Operations specialist personnel can also be utilised on a more permanent basis, either on a vessel, offshore or shore based installations and will advise, liaise and report directly with the client company on best practice and business continuity with up to date changes in security policies, Local intelligence, planning, procedures, threat assessments and lock down procedures.

Specialist Maritime Security Consultants.

Our consultants can be deployed to initiate and implement emergency planning and crisis management surveys and manual written assessments for vessels, offshore oil & gas installations. For this task, our consultants will hold a minimum qualification of a Masters degree in risk and crisis management and emergency planning.  

Port Freight & Equipment Tracking: Asset Surveillance Protection:

Freight and transportation leaving a port or secure distribution compound can be targeted by criminal gangs intent on hijacking and theft from the vehicle. Quite often the gangs have received inside information from within the distribution warehouse about the vehicles valued freight, planned stops, routes and final destination. Effective measures can be utilised by placing hidden trackers within the freight and in the case of high value freight, specialist surveillance teams can also be deployed to follow and report any planned or attempted attacks to a dedicated control centre and the police.

Investigation & Infiltration Teams:

You could discover that items of freight have been reported as missing and it is suspected that employees are involved in theft from within the company. Theft can occur from within organisations; bonded warehouses or other cargo storage facilities within the port, these factors can have a big impact on production and profit. The owner can be in a situation where he needs proof that theft is taking place by his own employees. An individual who is specialised in investigation and infiltration techniques can be employed by the company on the pretext of becoming a regular employee, and then placed within the problematic work area. Over time the undercover investigator can reveal the identity of the perpetrators and how and where the theft is taking place. Evidence in the form of covert photographic imagery can be produced to the company owners to be processed at their discretion. Alternatively the owner may prefer to investigate the theft in a more overt capacity, utilising an experienced investigation team.

Maritime Penetration Testing:

Certain organisations and ship owners on occasions request that their own security is tested for vulnerability and possible areas of bad security practice from their employees. This could be a vessel which is docked in a port, bonded (high value freight) warehouses, port security guard teams etc; Experienced and specialist operators will test their security, this could be by means of simply gaining entry into a building or vessel or sending a package with a fake bomb inside, and many more. If the specialist operator has successfully succeeded with their mission, they will then write a full vulnerability assessment report so that the client can assess their most vulnerable areas for the future.

Port CCTV Installation:

A full risk assessment of the port and any buildings within can be given, suggesting where best to place CCTV cameras. Covert cameras can also be installed if the client believes that theft of freight or equipment is occurring by criminals gaining access into the port or by its own employees.

Port Security Survey (PSS)

A detailed Port security survey can be written either before the new key security personnel are implemented or if other security personnel are already in place. The security survey will outline any changes in; current policy, local threat analysis, vulnerabilities and a recommended security action plan and control measures to be implemented.

Ship Security Survey (SSS)

A detailed independent ship security survey will outline the vulnerabilities and recommend security control measures, an action plan will list key priorities to be implemented. 

Ship Security Design Plan

Common ship design has revealed many critical physical and technical security vulnerabilities and features. An increase in piracy attacks against commercial and private shipping in some cases has shown that the structural design of the ship has allowed the attackers a more successful rate in hijacking and theft. A more secure design on a new build will provide vital resilience in structure and decrease the possibility of successful attacks in the future. Our consultants can play a vital role by providing security advice in the early stages of architectural planning.

Pre Transit Guidance Plan

If Maritime Security Officers (MSOs) are not required. Poseidon Operations can provide a comprehensive guidance plan, incorporating route intelligence reports and current control measures to facilitate a safe transit through high risk areas.