A study on Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCSSP) used against piracy in Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean

Maritime piracy activities which has existed since ancient ages still continue nowadays. Particularly Gulf of Aden and West Indian Ocean were hot spots for piracy activities between 2008 and 2012. But piracy activities has begun to decrease in those regions from 2012. It is considered that PCASP which deployed on merchant vessel is the most efficient reason for decrease of piracy activities. Eventhough pirates's attempts, there is no any merchant vessel which is protected by PCASP hijacked successfully until now. However success of PCASP againts pirates was not enough to prevent concerns about carrying of weapons on board in maritime sector. In this study, first it is examined that privatization of security and in this scope historical development of maritime private security applications, use of PCASP and its main legal issues in accordance with international law of the sea, standards of states and maritime stake holders, then it is appeared that existance of legal frame for PCASP. After legal frame of PCASP is expressed once, it is tried to find out that personal qualifications, which less regulated issue of PCASP, under the analysis of limited incidents and a draft about concept for use of PCASP. While the draft has been created, it is moved from prediction on more dangerous engagements at sea and escalation of violence by pirates who try to reach their aims under the changing situation because of growing up of use of PCASP. Keywords: Piracy, law of the sea, PCASP, use of force, PCASP personal qualifications.