HRAS includes RUF in Project Program

HRAS Founder, David Hammond, has included previous work that developed the first international model set of maritime Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) for the international community in the HRAS International Project program.

The development of recognized and lawful use of force at sea is an area of soft law which has been much needed in the shipping industry to protect crews, vessels and their cargos, says Hammond.

The right to life is often seen as the most important human right (Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Article 3 "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person"). Until the publication of the 100 Series Rules as a independent set of maritime Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) in May 2013, previously, there had been no model benchmark standard against which Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs), ship owners, associations and insurers could compare RUF.

The 100 Series Rules are recognized around the world as an example of lawful maritime RUF upholding basic human rights. They were conceived by the HRAS Founder and developed alongside the industry, including the International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Security Association for the Maritime Industry and Lloyds Register over a three year period.

Today, they are used by PMSCs around the World, have passed through the IMO as an INF paper for MSC 92 (Wednesday 24 April 2013), were submitted as guidance in ISO PAS 28007-2 “Guidelines for Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) providing privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships (and pro forma contract)” and are endorsed by the Marshall Islands flag State in Marine Notice 2-011-39.

The 100 Series Rules do not bind flag States as to their use, but instead provide a choice for their potential incorporation into national guidance as determined by respective governments and competent authorities.