Floating Armory

A floating armory is a vessel that stores firearms, ammunition, and security equipment for privately contracted armed security personnel in international waters, letting teams embark and disembark weapons without breaching national arms-import laws in port. No IMO instrument regulates floating armories; IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1443 (2012) on the use of PCASP in the High Risk Area, and MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2 guidance to shipowners, address arms storage and flag-state oversight only indirectly. Most operate under the flag state’s authority off the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Oman. Regulation is fragmented and contested.