I think it would be wise to give some though as to whether or not we want to increase the volume, velocity and weight of flying projectiles around my ship and crew in hopes of mitigating the pirate problem.ĭisagreement over this issue has been widely published by gCaptain and the broader media with BIMCO spokesman Giles Noakes leading the doves and the US Navy (among others) leading the hawks. Now I am not so sure.Ī lot of people dismiss the argument that it is unwise to arm merchant ships and mariners, the argument being that doing so will simply raise the level of violence. A couple of weeks ago I would have agreed. I can anticipate what the armchair gunners response to this incident is going to be – the British guards should have been armed. Regardless of their response, which has been inconsistent, it’s clear to us that the LRAD was not deployed in time to be of much use which leads to the question “Are alternatives to armed guards still a viable answer?” Master Mariner and friend of gCaptain, Kennebec Captain, recently commented: When a Panther helicopter from the Nivose arrived 15 minutes later, the pirates were already in control”ĪPMSS, the security firm protecting the Biscaglia, did not respond to Bloomberg’s statements but said in a statement that its crews have prevented three hijackings recently. “As the Biscaglia attack was under way, its distress signal was picked up by the Nivose, a French frigate escorting 18 merchant ships 40 miles away. Finally, Bloomberg gets an answer straight from the French Navy:
Specifically Fred asked the question “I wonder if this explains why some stories mention that the attack lasted forty minutes and others mention that it was all over in ten?”.
In last week’s edition of Maritime Moday, Fred Fry posted the wired magazine article Sonic Blaster Firm Disputes Pirate Talewhich shares LRAD’s investigation into the failed attempt to use of non-lethal weapons aboard the Biscaglia. What is not well researched however, is the title incident aboard the M/V Biscaglia. In a well researched article titled Mercenary Guards Jump Ship as Somali Pirates Remain Undeterred Bloomberg exposes private security efforts to protect ships in the region.
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