General

Please note that we are currently in the second phase of our three-phase membership drive. While the criteria for membership will remain consistent across all three phases, you may reasonably expect to see changes in the mechanics of the process. This is part of the Executive’s commitment for the development of a highly professional organization that will be able to provide top-tier support to its Membership.

The following document describes the membership requirements for those seeking to join the International Association of Maritime Security Professionals (MarSecPro)

Requirements

Each individual who seeks to join MarSecPro must take the following steps:

  1. Submit the membership application (within the PayPal system) and agree not to communicate (in any form) that they are a member unless they are a member in good standing;
  2. Complete and sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement that each member must abide with in terms of the handling of any other member`s proprietary information or trade secrets; and
  3. Complete and sign the Code of Practice (also referred to as the Code of Conduct) document that each member must adhere to in their professional conduct and business dealings;
  4. Agree to abide by the Constitution of MarSecPro; and
  5. Provide the name of  a reference that is willing to vouch for your character and nature of your business dealings as part of the vetting process. This reference does not need to be a member of the Association, but must be a known and reputable individual or leader within a company.

Membership Types

Membership within MarSecPro is broken down into four categories. These are the following (see the table below) and should be assumed to include the requirements described above:

Student Members

open to those that are enrolled full-time in a course of study associated with the maritime or asset protection and security (AP&S) domains;

Associate or Affiliate Members

these are “friends of the profession” who have an interest in maritime security but who do not provide maritime security goods or services as part of their business or regular work;

Full Members

these are persons who provide maritime security services or goods as part of their business or regular work;

Certified Members

these are full members who possess adequate experience and have passed examinations based upon the MarSecPro body of knowledge.

Executive / Lifetime and Founding

Within MarSecPro, Executive members must be full members who have been elected to office in accordance with the Constitution. These are not considered a separate class of membership in terms of enrolment, although the positions do carry additional weight due to their delegation under the Constitution.

Lifetime and Founding members are honorary positions that are granted to persons who have made exemplary contributions to the Association.

At this time, we have entered Phase II of the membership project. As a result, we are now able to accept memberships from the public at large where they meet the basic criteria and no longer require a reference from inside the Association (see above for reference requirements) or an invitation to join. Please note that we do not rank our membership based on seniority or entry date to ensure that all members have an equal voice within the Association.

Membership Costs

Certified members are able to hold positions, vote and participate on committees and are able to assist in through the development of standards and provision of comments. Certified members will generally receive advance copies of publications or standards. (Requires full membership plus passage of the CMSP when launched with payment of associate fees)

Full members are able to perform or benefit in all the ways that certified members do with the exception that in the development of standards they will generally be asked to contribute within their area of expertise only. ($100 USD / year)

Associate or Affiliate members are able to participate on committees based on their individual knowledge, skills or abilities and may also participate in the provision of comments on standards. Affiliate / Associate members will generally receive advance copies. ($70 USD / year)

Students may be asked to participate on committees associated with training and development. They may also provide comments on standards and receive advance copies ($20 USD / year)

Application for Membership

An online form is deployed to assist in the membership application process. When making application for membership, the following should be included sent to the attention of the Secretary following the completion of the online application form:

  • an indication that you have read and agree to abide by the Constitution;
  • the signed Code of Practice; and
  • the signed Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the test for providing maritime security services? What do I need to be able to demonstrate in order to meet these criteria?

These include the provision of a good or a service that is its own unique business line and that applies directly to the protection of ships, marine facilities and ports. The sole exception to this statement is that Masters of vessels may also be considered in this category as the Master of the vessel has ultimate authority over the safety and security of the vessel under his (or her) command while underway. This generally involves having to assess and respond to security-related conditions from his (or her) position of authority. For this reason, we consider the Master to be directly involved in this activity.

What is the difference between certified and trained?

No. No individual shall claim to be certified until they have passed formal examination, a verification of work history and provided a signed copy of the agreement to maintain the Code of Practice (aka Code of Conduct) of the organization (mandatory for any level of membership). Those with this kind of experience do have our gratitude for their good service but, in order to maintain the credibility of the certification when launched, there will be no grandfathering of individuals in order to reach a critical mass of members.

I am a consultant that has significant experience in the maritime security domain. Can I claim to be a certified professional under the IAMSP?

No, this is because there has been no formal or credible test against a body of knowledge. You may claim (of course) to be certified under any other association’s regime for which you possess a valid certification and in accordance with the bylaws of that particular association.

How can I determine if the student rate is appropriate for me?

If you are a full time student at an accredited college, university or maritime training institution, then you can claim the student rate for the full year as long as you are enrolled full time for at least five months of that year. If you are joining the Association at the beginning of an academic program but will not be a student for that five months (e.g. joining the Association in October while attending the institution), you may also claim student membership status.

What then constitutes a professional in the minds of IAMSP and how does this relate to being a certified and accredited professional?

A professional has joined a body of individuals that adhere to a specific code of conduct (our Code of Practice), adopt the values and ethics of the larger membership and that follow practices determined, after examination, to be considered sound. The basis for the current claim of professionalism resides in each and every member’s commitment to abide by the Code of Practice. This claim will be further reinforced with the final acceptance of the body of knowledge and certification process that is upcoming.A certified and accredited professional is one that can demonstrate all of the following:

  • has passed formal examination in terms of the association’s body of knowledge,
  • can demonstrate an understanding of its code of conduct, values and ethics, or similar structure;
  • has a agreed to be bound by that code of conduct, values, and ethics (or similar structure) in his or her dealings at all times; and
  • maintains the currency and relevancy of the above through activities such as continuous learning, etc.

Can an individual be removed from membership given these criteria?

Yes, an individual can be removed as a result of his or her misrepresenting any aspect that is associated with a condition of entry or for breaching the Code of Practice of the association. It should be noted that this includes criminal conduct, conduct that is against the Values and Ethics inherent in the Code of Practice, or conduct that would bring discredit down upon the Association. Before removing an individual, he or she will be given an opportunity to answer any complaint against him or her to the Executive to determine if removal is warranted. An individual may also be removed for filing a false claim against another member.

When are membership dues payable?

Up to 01 June 2011, the IAMSP is working under a strict invitee only structure. Following 01 June, memberships may be obtained at a pro-rated level for the remainder of the 2011 year (the cost of the membership being the full value divided by three (membership x 4 months of 12 months remaining in the year). Memberships will then be payable for the 2012 calendar year before 01 January 2012. Given the nature of the industry and the operations of many of its proposed members, memberships will be renewable with no loss of privileges up to 01 March (for those deployed on board vessels or out of their country of residence).

How are memberships going to be payable?

The IAMSP website will include a PayPal service that will allow individuals to pay their memberships via traditional means available to consumers. We are taking this approach in order to assure the protection of our members’ personal and banking information and remain compliant with various industry standards.Also, upon declaring your intent to join IAMSP by letter or email, an electronic invoice will be sent to you. Following the receipt of your fees, a welcoming letter will be sent to you.