• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2014

The increased threat to commercial shipping by Somalia-based pirates has triggered an increased use of PMSC(Private Maritime Security Contractors). The use of PMSC to protect merchant ships against Somali-based piracy threat seems to have been most effective counter-piracy measures. However, there are various legal and practical questions around using PMSC and PCASP(Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel) on board at sea. This paper aims to study the regulation and its problems of PMSC and PCASP on board to protect merchant ships against Somali-based piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. In particular, this paper focuses on the legal issues including jurisdictional issues of PCASP on board merchant vessels, use of force by PCASP in self-defense, and authority for using PMSC. Currently, the legal framework relating to use of PMSC and PCASP on board protecting ships from Somali-based piracy is complex, sometimes ambiguous or inconsistent, and currently in a state of flux. Thus, this paper concludes that at this juncture an effort to coordinate this legal framework is necessary, as regards both the interpretation of existing rules related to PCASP on board merchant ships under UNCLOS(United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the creation of new rules. Also, this paper suggested that there is an urgent need to establish the PMSC-specific laws in Korea.