Letter of Authorization (LOA)

A flag-state permission allowing Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) and their firearms aboard a vessel of that flag for a defined high-risk transit. Because IMO guidance (MSC.1/Circ.1443 and related circulars) leaves the carriage of armed guards to flag-state discretion, the owner obtains the flag administration’s authorization before embarking a PMSC team, and the LOA sets conditions on weapons, rules for the use of force, and the embarkation and disembarkation ports.