Maritime Security Agency

Mission

The mission of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency states:

Contents

• Mission
• Roles and Functions
• Organizational headquarters
• Historical overview
• Commissioned officers rank
• Ships and boats
• Decommissioned ships
• Aircraft
• Decommissioned Aircraft
• References

To assert and enforce national jurisdiction and sovereignty in the maritime zones in order to regulate and protect maritime interests of Pakistan

Roles and Functions

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has roles in maritime homeland security, national and international maritime law enforcement (MLE), search and rescue (SAR), marine environmental protection (MEP), and the maintenance of intracoastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). The agency is mandate to protect the fishing vessels and crew against any threat within the Maritime Zones (MZ).

The agency performs military operations authorized by the Ministry of Defence to protect the economic and maritime interests of Pakistan. The agency also provides security and assists governmental agencies, international organizations and the Pakistan Navy in petroleum and other mineral exploration in Pakistan's naval zones. The agency coordinates the oceanographic research and other scientific activities of the Navy Hydrographic Department.

Organizational headquarters

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is a paramilitary branch of the Pakistan Navy, not a separate branch. The officers, other ranks and equipment, are mostly derived from the Navy. Keeping the military code of the paramilitary command of Pakistan, its original strength and inventory is classified but it is expected to be consist of approximately 5000 members. The headquarters of the agency is situated in Karachi. Since its inception, the agency's headquarters were located in different hired commercial buildings at different locations in Karachi. In 2007, the Navy Engineering Branch began the construction of the new headquarter building and completed the course of work in 2009. Finally, on 2010, the new building was occupied by the Navy on March 2010 and finally inaugurated on 15 January 2011 by Chief of the Naval Staff. The agency consists of a Director-General and it is commanded by a two-star rank, a Rear-Admiral seconded from Pakistan Navy. The headquarters of the agency and personnel are placed under the command of Commander of Coastal Areas (COMCOAST), who usually supervise the operations for the Ministry of Defence.

Historical overview

Although the Pakistan Coast Guard was established by the Government of Pakistan under the command of Pakistan Army and operated by the Ministry of Interior, the Coast Guard was unable to conduct off shore operations and execute law enforcement missions, this was instead done by the Pakistan Navy. The Government of Pakistan adopted the genesis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 and acquired an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 240,000 square miles (620,000 km²). In order to provide protection to this vast area, the Pakistan Government decided to raise the Agency under the Ministry of Defence consisting the members of Navy. The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) was formally inaugurated on 1 January 1987 and gained its constitutional status in 1997 after ratification of the UNCLOS. The agency implements the local and international laws in the EEZ, and provides surveillance against poaching by illegal vessels and unauthorized survey by foreign craft. It also conducts Search and Rescue missions, and implements measures for control of pollution and fishery protection.

Commissioned officers rank

The order of hierarchy, commissioned and non-commissioned ranks structure of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency are same and as equivalent of Pakistan Navy (as the officers and personnel seconded to the Navy_. The PMSA directly reports of the Commander Coast (COMCOAST).

Ships and boats

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency is equipped with four corvettes, and nine small fast response boats (FBP). The agency also operates three Britten-Norman Defender aircraft for the purposes of search and rescue and navigation.

www.pmsa.gov.pk The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency currently operates former Pakistan Navy vessels and currently operates the following:

Decommissioned ships

PMSS Nazim was decommissioned on 6 October 2010

Aircraft

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency operates one aircraft squadron known as Squadron 93 PMSA. The squadron was inaugurated on 23 June 1988 with the induction of a Fokker F27 Friendship an interim measure, for sea surveillance. The aircraft was stationed at Jinnah Terminal for the purpose of logistics support. In 1993, the PMSA acquired the Britten-Norman Defender stationed at Mehran Naval Air Station.

Decommissioned Aircraft