BIMCO has published GUARDCON contract for the employment of security guards on vessels on 28 March 2012.
BIMCO developed GUARDCON with the aim to assist the shipping community in particular the shipowners and their P&I Clubs, by providing a clearly worded and comprehensive standard contract on which they can harmonize terms of engagement of PMSC (Private Maritime Security Contractors) and as well as simplifying the processes for vetting and approval of contracts by shipowners as well as their P&I clubs.
There has been substantial growth in the number of PMSC, each with differing contractual terms. However, there is presently very little regulation governing the activities of these companies and no formal recognized accreditation system to ensure minimum standards are met. Some of them even operate with inadequate insurance cover and without necessary permits and licenses. The issue of GUARDCON aims to raise the standard of security companies in terms of insurance cover for their risks, and permits and licenses to allow them to lawfully transport and carry weapons. However, it is notable that GUARDCON does not represent a recommendation by BIMCO or a substitute for exercising the due diligence by shipowners as part of the pre-contractual process when selecting the PMSC.
GUARDCON addresses a number of key issues as follows:
• Security Services
It is provided in Clause 3 that the contractors are to provide a security team of at least four members, one of whom must be an appropriately experienced leader. Four is considered to be the minimum number of guards necessary to operate an efficient round-the-clock watch on board a vessel during a transit and providing the required level of protection. However, we noted in practice, certain shipowners would only employ a team of 3 armed guards on board, especially for those comparatively small sized vessels. It is concerned there is one side of the vessel would not be covered by the armed guards where actual attack may incur. Therefore, accepting any less than four guards should be agreed carefully on a case by case basis between owners and contractors and should follow from a proper risk assessment.
• Contractors’ Obligations and Responsibilities
It is provided in Clause 6 the contractors shall use “all reasonable skill and care” as the benchmark for providing the agreed security services. This clause provides for the obligations and responsibilities of contractors under this service contract including requiring the contractors to advise on and/or help the owners implementing security measures on board the vessel; having sufficient shore based resources to provide operational and administrative backup to the security team during the transit; responsibility for their sick or injured personnel; qualifications, training and experience required of the security guards; background experience of the guards; working languages; team leader’s prior experience of providing shipboard security services etc.
We would like to draw owner’s attention that it is further provided in sub-clause (a) (iv) that the advice provided by the security team to the Master in respect of routing of vessel is strictly limited to security related matters concerning the routing of the vessel and does not undermine the Master’s overall authority in respect of the navigation of the vessel.
• Owners’ Obligations and Responsibilities
Clause 7 states that owner’s obligations and responsibilities under the contract. The key obligation is the payment of all sums due to the contractors. Others include the notification of all relevant parties (including but not limited to Flag State, hull and machinery underwriters, P&I underwriters, war risk underwriters and charterers) that the vessel will be carrying armed / unarmed security guards; the provision of a secure location for the storage of firearms; and the entering of the guards on the crew manifest as supernumeraries and giving them shipboard familiarization training. Listing the guards as supernumeraries on board the vessel is done to avoid issues in certain port as to the status of non-crew on the ship as if not listed as supernumeraries they could be considered as passengers that might create difficulties in terms of their employment on board and the carriage of their security equipment.
• Master’s Responsibilities for the safe navigation and overall command of the vessel
In Clause 8, it is provided for the use of force. The most fundamental aspect is under no circumstances should there be a derogation of the Master’s authority when carrying armed civilian guards on board a merchant vessel, the master retains at all times full command of and responsibility for the vessel. However, it is also acknowledged that the Master does not have the necessary expertise to command a team of armed guards in the use of firearms or necessarily to decide upon situations where a graduated response by the guards is appropriate. Therefore, Clause 8 does not require the Master to invoke the Rules for the use of force. It is further provided in sub-clause (b) that if, in the team leader’s professional opinion, the threat warrants a graduated response from the security guards, he has to advise the Master or, in the Master’s absence, the officer of the watch, that he intends to invoke the Rules for the use of force. In terms of the actual use of force, sub-clause (c) clearly allocates the decision to each of the security guards alone. It is further provided in sub-clause (d) in terms of emphasizing the Master’s absolute authority at all times as conferred by the SOLAS Convention although the Master does not invoke the Rules of the use of force or order the use of force by the security guards, he retains the right under all circumstances to order the guards to stop firing.
• Permits and Licenses
As mentioned above, an apparent sizable number of PMSCs are operating without the necessary permits and licenses to transport and carry weapons which effectively makes the carriage of weapons illegal. GUARDCON provides comprehensively in Clause 10 that there is a strict obligation on the contractors to ensure that they meet all requirements on permits and licenses. It is also not one-sided and owners also have obligation to obtain and maintain any and all permits to carry armed guards on board.
• Insurance Policies
The key feature of GUARDCON is the Insurance Policies Clause 12. It sets out the contractors must maintain not only the liability insurance but also contractual indemnity insurance, where liability insurance only covers claims arising from contractors and their employees own fault (negligence) and contractual indemnity covers contractor’s undertaking in the contract to indemnity owners for claims made against them. Sub-clause (b) deals with policy limits which are set at USD 5million (or other higher figure as may be agreed by the parties). The contractors are obliged to provide the owners with evidence of insurance with copies of cover notes if the owner so requires. As provided by sub-clause (c), owners should also be adequately insured and have appropriate P&I covers.
• Liabilities and Indemnities
The liability and indemnity provision is based on knock for knock principles. Clause 15, whereby each party is responsible loss of / damage to and / or death of / injury to any of its own property and / or personnel or that of the entities within its defined “group” ; responsibility is without recourse to the other party; and each party, in respect of losses, damages or other liabilities it has assumed responsibility for, indemnifies the other party.
GUARDCON is accompanied by a separate guidance document “Guidance on Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) by Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) in Defense of a Merchant Vessel (MV)” That guidance is aimed to provide guidance to shipowners and PMSC in respecting of agreeing on the Rules for the use of force that must form part of service contact with armed guards companies. Shipowners should also be aware of that the Rules for the use of force must also comply with the provision of MSC.1/Circ.1405 and with Flag State and Port State and applicable national laws re carriage and use of firearms.
It is advised by BIMCO more and more armed guards companies (For example, PVI) are applying GUARDCON. When concluding a security service contract with armed guards companies, we highly recommend shipowners to check their terms and conditions for the key issues highlighted in GUARDCON to protect their interests.
See attached file : ALCO20120058 Guardcon.pdf
《船上保安人员雇佣合同》
波罗的海国际航运公会（BIMCO）于2012年3月28日发布了《船上保安人员雇佣合同》（以下简称GUARDCON）。
BIMCO发布GUARDCON的目的在于：为航运群体，尤其是船东及其保赔险协会提供措辞明晰，内容全面的标准合同，使各私营海事安保公司（PMSC以下简称安保公司）使用的合同条款尽量一致，同时简化船东及其保赔险协会审核和接受合同的程序。
近来，安保公司数量大幅增加，但使用的合同条款各不相同。然而，目前几乎没有任何规章来规范这些公司的经营活动，也没有正式的、公认的认可体系以确保这些公司的服务达到一个最低标准。有些安保公司甚至在没有投保适当的保险，或缺乏必要许可证和营业执照的情况下经营。GUARDCON的发布旨在提升安保公司在风险保障、许可证和营业执照等要求上的标准，确保其能够合法运输和携带武器。然而，需要注意的是，BIMCO并没有明确推荐使用GUARDCON合同格式，该合同格式的出现也不意味着，船东在选择安保公司时，不再需要恪尽职守做好审查合同条款的工作。
GUARDCON 规定的若干主要事项如下：
• 安全服务
第3条规定，安保公司提供的保安小组至少由4名成员组成，其中一人必须为经验丰富的领导者。4名护航人员是最低人数需求，只有4名及以上才能在运输途中开展有效的24小时船上瞭望，给船舶提供符合要求的有效保护。然而，我们注意到实务中，一些船东雇佣只有3名武装人员的保安小组，尤其是那些吨位较小的船舶。令人担忧的是，当海盗劫持时，3名保安无法使船舶的两舷及首尾都得到保护。因此，船东和安保公司应根据个案具体情况，慎重考虑任何少于4名护航人员的合同，事前必须做出充分的风险评估。
• 安保公司的义务和责任
合同第6条规定，安保公司应以其”一切合理技能和谨慎” 为基准，提供约定的安全服务。本条款规定了服务合同下安保公司的义务和责任，包括安保公司需要对船东采取船上安全措施给予建议和帮助；需拥有充足的岸上资源，以确保运输期间向保安小组提供操作和管理上的岸基支持；需对人员的伤病负责；需确保保安队员的素质、培训经历和实战经验达到安保要求；需确保保安队员的背景经历、工作语言、领导的前期经验等都能达到护航要求。
船东还需注意的是，在附属条款(a)(iv)中进一步规定，保安小组向船长提供的有关船舶航线的建议仅限于与航线安全性有关的事项，并不能改变船长对船舶航行安全全权负责这一授权。
• 船东义务和责任
合同第7条规定了船东义务和责任。船东主要义务是向安保公司支付所有费用。其他义务有：通知各相关方（包括但不限于船旗国、船壳险保险人、保赔险保险人、战争险保险人和租家）船舶将携带武装/非武装保安小组；提供储藏安全存放枪械的地方；把保安小组成员作为临时雇员加入船员名单中，对他们进行船上培训。将保安人员列为船上临时雇员是因为在某些港口，船上的非船员如果没有被列为临时雇员，他们将被视为乘客，这就会给他们在船上执行安保任务和携带安保武器带来困难，而将其列为临时雇员就可以避免这一问题。
• 船长对安全航行和船舶全权负责的责任
第8条对使用武力进行了规定。最基本的原则是，在任何情况下，商船上的武装平民护航人员不能剥夺船长的权力，船长始终全权负责对船舶的控制并承担由此产生的责任。然而，众所周知，船长不具备指挥武装保安队的必要专门知识， 也无法在紧急情况下，对保安队员做出的应急反应是否适当做出判断。因此，第8条不要求船长涉及武器使用。附属条款(b)进一步规定，如果从保安小组组长专业的角度看，面对的威胁需要保安小组成员做出相应回应，他应该告知船长或船长不在时，告知值班驾驶员，他打算执行使用武力。关于实际使用武力，附属条款(c)明确规定仅由保安人员作决定。附属条款(d)进一步规定，强调船长始终享有SOLAS公约授予完全的权力， 尽管船长不涉及使用武力或命令保安人员使用武力，但在任何情况下，他有权命令保安人员停止开火。
• 许可证和营业执照
如上文所说，相当数量的安保公司在没有必要的许可证和营业执照运输和携带武器的情况下运作，这将使得他们携带武器构成非法行为。GUARDCON第10条中明确规定，安保公司有严格的义务，确保自身所有许可证和营业执照符合要求。同时，不仅安保公司这一方，船东也有义务去获得和保持武装保安人员在船的所有证书。
• 保单
GUARDCON的主要特色体现在第12条保险条款中。该条规定，安保公司不但要参保责任保险，而且要有合同损失赔偿保险。责任保险仅承保安保公司及其雇员自身错误（疏忽）引起的索赔。合同损失赔偿保险承保安保公司履行合同过程中，船东向其提出的索赔责任。附属条款(b)涉及到了保单限额的问题，最高为500万美元（或双方认可的更高数额）。如果船东提出要求，安保公司有义务向船东提供保险证明副本。根据附属条款(c)的规定，船东也需要充分保险，并投保相应的保赔险。
• 责任和赔偿
关于责任和赔偿，基于双方各施其责的原则。第15条规定，各方对自身财产和人员，或属于其”集团” 下的实体的损失/损害/死亡/受伤负责；没有向其他方追偿的权利；各方对应由其承担的责任，给对方造成的损失、损害或其他责任，给对方以赔偿。
GUARDCON附有一份独立的指导文件，《私人雇佣的武装保安人员在商船上武力使用规则指导》（Guidance on Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) by Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) in Defense of a Merchant Vessel (MV)）。这一指导文件旨在向船东和安保公司提供指导，船东和安保公司同意执行武力必须成为武装护航公司服务合同的一部分。同时，船东应注意使用武力必须符合MSC.1/Circ.1405的规定，船旗国和港口国的规定以及就运输和使用枪械可适用的各国国内法。
从BIMCO获悉，越来越多的武装护航公司（如PVI）采用GUARDCON。当与武装护航公司签订安全服务合同时，我们强烈建议船东检查GUARDCON中强调的主要事项条款，以保护自身利益。
以上由 ANDREW LIU & CO.,LTD 编译，应以英文为准！
详细信息请参阅附件。
