Armed protection of merchant vessels registered in the Netherlands
Merchant ships registered in the Netherlands can request the assistance of armed guards – known as Vessel Protection Detachments or VPDs – from the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. Under certain conditions, ships sailing the Gulf of Aden risk area can employ the services of a Private Marine Security Company (PMSC). The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) is tasked with supervision of the use of PMSCs.
Applying for armed security with the Netherlands Coastguard
Read more about the conditions and application for armed security by VPDs and PMSCs on the Netherlands Coastguard website.
You must request permission for each passage.
You may take private armed security guards on board only from companies that have a PMSC licence issued by the ILT. These are currently:
ESC Global Security
ESS&SA Maritime
Praesidium International
Laws and regulations for deployment of a PMSC
Wet ter bescherming koopvaardij (Merchant Shipping (Protection) Act, only in Dutch) with annexes
Besluit bescherming koopvaardij (Merchant Shipping Protection Decree, only in Dutch) with annex
Regeling bescherming koopvaardij (Merchant Shipping Protection Regulation, only in Dutch)