Malta company confirms plans to build private armory in Maldives

A Malta company has confirmed plans to set up a private armory in a northern island in the Maldives, supervised by the Maldivian army, to cater to the demand for maritime security for ships transiting the Indian Ocean.

Malta’s Marshall Consultants Group, a maritime and aviation logistics firm, has set up a company called Safety at Sea Logistics Ltd. (SASL) in the Maldives to provide a range of services, including private security and support for oil and gas research and freight industries, according to documents obtained by The Maldives Independent and information published on the company’s website.

A spokesman for Marshall Consultants said SASL plans to begin services “as soon as we get permission. We haven’t got all the permissions yet. We are waiting for clearance.”