Sri Lanka Changes Procedures For Floating Armoury Off Galle
Source: Sri Lanka MOD & Urban Development
Effective from 15 October 2012, the deployment of a Floating Armoury in the international waters off Galle, South Sri Lanka, will affect all Private Maritime Secuirty Companies (PMSCs) carriage of weapons and Sea Marshals (armed guards) transfer operations in the area.
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Floating Armouries - Pic: Avant Maritime
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The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence and Urban Development has issued guidance to all PMSCs on the clearance, transfer and storage of weapons held by their staff. This measure is taken in view of National security concerns, states the document. The Land Based Naval Armouries at Galle and Colombo will cease to function. PMSCs are to clear all weapons held from these armouries prior to 15 October 2012, although vessels entering the Port of Colombo will retain weapons as bonded stores onboard.
The MoD will monitor all the activities pertaining to the Floating Armoury and the Sri Lanka Navy will provide security and supervision for all service boats during weapon and Sea Marshall transfer operations. Control of the floating armoury, however, will be handled jointly by MS Avant Garde Maritime Private Ltd (AGMS) and Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL), legally incorporated under Sri Lankan law.
Standard Operating Procedues applicable to the transfer of Sea Marshals and weapons to and from vessels will be issued by AGMS, which will relieve respective PMSCs from all legal obligations and enable payments under their existing agreements. AGMS will also issue information required to obtain the Flag state approval for the PMSC weapons and the agreement between concerned parties.
The transfer procedure from the Land Based Armoury at Galle is provided in an annex to the MOD letter on Floating Armouries, which may be found HERE.
How this change in policy will affect PMSCs and the ways of working in the region has yet to be determined. With the consternation caused by the growth of alleged private floating armouries from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, and points around the Indian Ocean, this move to legitimise the facility off Sri Lanka may well encourage other regional states to instigate a similar procedure. The administrative costs are not disclosed in the document, however, contact details for AGMS and RALL, (ex-Sri Lanka forces personnel). The website www.avantmaritime.com is also available for further details.
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