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Reconsidering Arming Merchant Ships to Counter Somali Pirates
When the Maersk Alabama was attacked by Somali pirates the other day they repelled the attack by evasive manuevers, long-range acoustical devices and small arms fire. Until recently the consensus among ship operators and owners was that arming crews or providing onboard security details could increase the risk to the crews and wasn’t cost effective. This view may be changing for several reasons.
Maersk Alabama: Should ships use armed guards to stop Somali pirates?
While the pirate attacks have been decreased somewhat in the restricted waters of the Gulf of Aden, pirates have attacked in the Indian Ocean as far as 1,000 miles from shore and as far south as the Seychelles. This represents far too large an area for the multinational naval forces in the area to possibly patrol. Merchant ships are left to fend for themselves.
The chances of any single ship being hijacked are still extremely low. An estimated 20,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the Somali coast yearly, while in 2008 roughly 40 ships were hijacked. The number may rise to over 50 this year. Then again, while the chance of any particular ship is small the cost of being hijacked is escalating. Recently a s Spanish trawler and crew was ransomed for between $3 and 4 million.
Until recently, ship owners could buy insurance against piracy at moderately reasonable rates. With the increased level of attacks, piracy insurance has risen by a factor of ten. Increasingly, the placement of armed security teams onboard ships is becoming relatively more cost competive.
Shipping insurance sky-rockets as pirate attacks increase
Numerous problems remain with arming crews or putting security teams onboard ship.
Owners Reputed to be Deploying Armed Security Services Onboard Ships
Some ship owners are apparently deploying armed security guards onboard their vessels on the sly to help protect their crew and cargoes against potential piracy attacks when transiting through the dangerous waters off the coast of Somalia, according to a leading defence equipment manufacturer.
In the continuing fight against piracy, BCB International has devised a new piracy prevention system to avoid the potential war conflict of carrying arms onboard merchant ships, yet this controversial issue is being sidelined by some shipping companies with a phenomenal degree of risk involved.
“I have actually spoken to security companies who have been employed by major shipping companies to take armed guards onboard their vessels before they move through pirate-ridden seas. They carry AK-47s which are very cheap, about $5 , and as they approach the port destination they throw the rifles overboard so Port State Control doesn’t see them,” claimed Jonathan Delf, UK Marine Sales Manager for BCB.
In the mean time the government of the United States continues to be incredibly stupid regarding the entire issue. It continues to argue that ship owners should essentially say to the pirates, “Take my ship and kill my crew. I won’t pay ransom.”
US warns against paying ransom to pirates
U.S. deputy ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo expressed concern that ransom payments have contributed to the recent increase in piracy.
She said the United States is encouraging all countries to adopt a policy of “no concessions” when dealing with pirates.
Blaming the payment of ransom for piracy is a bit like blaming wet streets for causing rain.
Comments
3 Responses to “Reconsidering Arming Merchant Ships to Counter Somali Pirates”
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From the beginning I have believed in armed response and was critisised for that view. As Master I carried arms on the West African container run and never had any problems with pirates. The word went out we were armed and would respond. Port Authorities were told that if they wanted their cargos to live with that fact. Acceptance was immediate and of course we had the backing of the charterers – ZIM LINE. Some twenty years later it seems finally the idea has caught hold !!
Good(armed)Watch.
I am not necessarily opposed to arming ships but am concerned about some of the possible consequences. I worked for a tanker company who had a couple of ships on charter to the military who were issued a couple of shotguns when the ships were transiting the Straits of Malacca. I recall one captain asking if the guns were “intrinsically safe” as any equipment that could be taken on deck was supposed to be. He later opined that he didn’t want to go up against a gang of Malay pirates armed with AKs with only a shotgun.
The situation in Somalia is different in that the ships are relatively isolated with help far away. Time will tell what the best strategy is.
In the mean time it would be nice if the navies involved stopped their pirate catch release program. A few hundred pirates facing trial and jail time would also be a good deterrent.
I propose that three 50 cal machine guns be carried on each merchant ship. A number of seamen would be be given a short course on how to load, fire and clear blockages. With one mounted on each side and the other at the stern, and firing tracer, no pirate boat would ever dare come near after the first warning burst. The weapons would be locked away under the control of the master at all times when not needed. The cost would be insignificant when compared with a ransom payment, and insurers could surely offer a big discount to vessels so protected. The legal basis? Just do it – and let the faint hearts catch up with the reality afterwards. The pirate problem would quickly disappear altogether.