Photograph above: A security operative provided by EOS Risk
Management is pictured in the Gulf of Aden using an acoustic
hailing device on board a tanker. This picture was taken
immediately before an attack in which four pirate speedboats, armed
with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades, attempted
to hijack the vessel. The operatives foiled the attack by employing
professional measures and by calling in air support from a
coalition warship.
A Stoke-on-Trent firm is protecting shipping crews on some of
the most dangerous seas in the world from pirate attacks - with
support from UK Trade & Investment.
EOS Risk Management provides security services to corporations,
Government agencies and private individuals on a global basis.
Established in 2003, it has five employees and uses a pool of
security consultants as required.
The company has won contracts worth nearly £100,000 in
total with three new clients as a result of exhibiting at the Abu
Dhabi Boat Show, with financial support from UK Trade &
Investment.
EOS will provide onboard anti-piracy systems and specially
trained security operators to protect ship crews in the Gulf of
Aden and Indian Ocean from pirate attacks.
Company director David Johnson said: "These waters are amongst
the most dangerous in the world for shipping crews to be kidnapped
and held to ransom by pirates.
"We have won three new contracts with three separate companies
including an oil and gas service provider from Singapore. The
services provided include the provision of security operatives for
an offshore gas and trenching ship travelling from Port Said in
Egypt to Kakinada in India.
"We have also agreed a deal to lease sonic security equipment
for a large European passenger ship on the same waters, and signed
an agreement with a global oil and gas company to provide similar
equipment to protect its offshore installations in Nigeria from
terrorist attacks.
"In addition, we have appointed a distributor in the United Arab
Emirates, which should open up a large market for us.
"We only use UK operatives - all ex-uniformed services - for
international work.
"For instance, we had 20 people from Staffordshire and the West
Midlands earning $50,000 per year working for a cruise line
operator, thus adding $1m to the British economy."
David added: "We have had fantastic results from the Abu Dhabi
Boat Show and are delighted with the support we have received from
UK Trade & Investment.
"Our local international trade adviser, Pat Steele, is always a
great source of advice and help and has been able to access UK
Trade & Investment funding for us to exhibit at a number of
events such as this."
The company won the Small Passport Exporter of the Year award at
last year's West Midlands UK Trade & Investment international
trade awards.
International trade adviser Pat Steele, based at North
Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "David is always a
pleasure to work with, he is very proactive and his business has
gone from strength to strength over the past few years. He is very
appreciative of the support he has from UK Trade &
Investment."
For more information about how UK Trade & Investment can
help your business expand into new markets abroad, contact the
international trade team at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce
on Tel: 01782 202222.