Industry Links and Accreditations

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for the quality management of businesses.  It applies to the processes that create and control the products and services an organisation supplies, and prescribes systematic control of activities to ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met.  ISO 9001 is designed and intended to apply to virtually any product or service, made by any process anywhere in the world. Stent International have been accredited by ISOQAR and independent ISO auditing body. Click here.

The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) is a Swiss government convened, multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to both clarify international standards for the private security industry operating in complex environments, as well as to improve oversight and accountability of these companies. Click here.

SCEG engages across government on a sustained basis on a range of issues pertinent to the industry. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office  (FCO) is the principal conduit for the partnership but SCEG is also actively engaged with the Department of Transport, (DfT) the Home Office, the Department for Business Innovation Skills (BIS), UK Trade and Industry (UKTI) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Click here.

MSCHOA is an initiative established by EU NAVFOR with close co-operation from industry. The MSC-HOA centre provides 24 hour manned monitoring of vessels transiting through the Gulf of Aden whilst the provision of an interactive website enables the Centre to communicate the latest anti-piracy guidance to industry and for Shipping Companies and operators to register their movements through the region. Click here.

BIMCO has recently released it’s GUARDCON standard contract for the employment of security guards on vessels. This brand new contract has been developed to provide ship owners and private maritime security companies (PMSC) with a clearly worded and comprehensive standard contract to govern the employment and use of security guards, with or without firearms, on board merchant vessels. Click here.

Shooting Training Solutions are primarily providers of Maritime Firearms Training. The Maritime Firearms Training Courses are designed by instructors who have a wide experience of the Maritime Anti-Piracy environment combined with weapons handling in high-risk situations complying directly with codes of conduct and existing maritime regulations.

Maritime Firearms Training utilizes a military style training basis with the emphasis on the individual’s awareness of safety. This is combined with competence on the weapons systems and preparedness for the challenges ahead to detect and deter in a civilian Maritime Security environment.

The Course Instructors all have a Military background and are former Special Boat Service and Royal Marines Weapons Instructors. Mark “Nobby” Knowles Director and Training Instructor of Shooting Training Solutions has some 33 years of Military service in UK Special Forces and the Royal Marines. His Operational service stretches from the Falklands war in 1982, to serving in every Major conflict since, including 4 tours of Afghanistan. He served for 5 years as the Chief Instructor of the Special Boat Service and 2 years as the senior SBS Instructor at 22 SAS. He has trained numerous individuals in an array of Firearms, Close Protection and undercover Operations, having gained immeasurable expertise in these areas from personal experience and involvement. He has been decorated with MSM, QCB, Campaign Medals, Bars and Commendations for his service.

As the founding member of Shooting Training Solutions he instructs on the Maritime Firearms Competency Course, he has a vast and extensive knowledge in the Maritime Security Industry and is qualified to teach and instruct Firearms in the civilian environment and is an NRA (National Rifle Association) accredited RCO’s (Range Conducting Officers) and NRA Club Instructor. He prides himself on his instructional skills and teaching in a relaxed informative manner. Click here.

The 100 Series Rules have been developed for the benefit of the entire maritime industry and under-pinned by a thorough public international and criminal law legal review using an objective international law test of what is “reasonable and necessary” when force is used, as a lawful last resort, in self-defense. This objective international legal test is deemed to be of a higher legal standard than that of subjective national legislative provisions for self-defense. Click here.

Stent International are one of very few Private Maritime Security companies granted permission to operate armed guards on board Croatian flag vessels. Under a recent bylaw issued by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure PMSC’s have to demonstrate an extremely high level of competency with strictly vetted procedures and processes.

To fully mitigation the risk of maritime security operatives (MSOs’) submitting fraudulent certificates and qualifications, PSCS International Ltd has developed the validation solution DataCheck©.  DataCheck© ensures best practice in the screening and validation of MSOs’ credentials. PSCS International Ltd verification officers’ carry out independent detailed investigative scrutiny of MSOs qualifications, to the point of issue. Thereby, eliminating fraudulent certificates and qualifications throughout the industry forever.