SafeGuard Clothing Underlines the Importance of Body Armor Protection at Sea.

Military Navy Personnel
Being part of the military navy is one of the most honored and tough positions out there. With the imminent threat of attacks by pirates and the military of another country, being constantly protected by maritime body armor is a given for any member of the military navy. Any day an order can come in for an attack to be carried out and in the same way, any day can be the day that the military of another country receives the order to attack. Therefore, maritime body armor serves as the lifeline of any member of the military navy and should never be taken lightly.

The level of protection is another central question for all military navy members. As it can be expected that the opposing military is in possession of some of the most technologically advanced weaponry, stab proof maritime body armor simply won’t do. With large caliber guns likely being part of an attack, a high level of protection is required to protect the body of the soldier against the bullets of the opposing military force. Although a NIJ Level IV bulletproof vest provides the largest stopping power against bullets, which are potentially, body armor piercing, a maritime armored life vest may be the right choice for military and navy personnel. These armored life vests don’t only protect the wearer from bullets, but also from drowning. They are available in the protection levels NIJ IIA, NIJ II and NIJ IIIA, making them effective bullet-stoppers for calibers up to .44.

Maritime Security Personnel
Maritime security personnel have as much of a reason to wear body armor as any other occupation traveling the oceans of the world. As maritime security personnel are usually hired by ship owners who are planning on traveling HRAs (high risk areas) in which piracy and political instability are causes for concern. On any given day, pirates can attack the boat in an attempt to kidnap the cargo, the boat or even the crew. Since modern day pirates are usually equipped with some of the most powerful weaponry available on the market that include assault rifles and even explosives, proper protection is essential for the survival during one of these attacks.
According to figures released by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) pirate attacks on boats in HRAs have increased by 26% from 145 in 2009 to 183 in 2013. As this data shows, protection against pirates heavily equipped with guns and other weaponry is highly important for maritime security personnel working in high risk areas.

As drowning is also an imminent risk for maritime security officers, much like for military and navy personnel,an armored life vest is likely the best option in order to protect oneself against high powered attacks by pirates in high and low risk areas of the world. The best choice would likely be a vest with the NIJ level IIIA protection, as it protects against rounds as large as 0.44 caliber, as well as smaller bullets and shrapnel from explosives thrown by pirates onto the board of the ship.

Boat Owners
Piracy is a threat that is real in all areas of the world, although most imminent in high-risk areas of the oceans of the world. Boat owners who operate in such areas are at an especially high risk of falling victim to pirate attacks. Boat owners need to consider wearing body armor at all times, in order to protect their bodies against rounds fired from the weapons of pirate attackers. Large caliber vests with a level of protection that exceeds NIJ IIIA can prove to be the right option should an attack occur. Acquiring maritime body armor that is not subjected to take damage from water and moist air is imperative for all boat owners and captains.

Captains and boat owners who operate in areas that aren’t considered high risk also have great reason to wear body armor at all time. With heavy weathers possible in any area of the world, boat owners and captains should protect themselves and their crew with maritime body armor that can protect the body from falls and other blunt force accidents caused by wind and weather at high sea. Combining the safety features of body armor with those of live vests, is likely the best option for captains and crew members of smaller vessels, more likely to capsize during extreme weather at high sea. Armored life vests with a protection level of NIJ IIA is likely sufficient and the best option due to its lower weight and higher level of agility of the wearer.