While operating on the high seas, many merchant vessels travel completely unprotected, relying on evasive measures, like increasing the distance off the coast of countries like Somalia, hi-pressure water hoses in some instance, increasing speed in attempt to outrun the pirates speedboats and similar defensive measures. These are merely stop-gap measures and do not deter these attacks. In addition, having on-board unarmed security teams has recently proven ineffective and possibly increases the danger. To protect shipping interests and vessels security escort vessels ( private ) have to be used. Close support escort vessels ( armed crew ) is the only realistic solution to the piracy problem. One the US company provides this services, the only one in the world is: Unitel.com I believe they are located in New York.
While operating on the high seas, many merchant vessels travel completely unprotected, relying on evasive measures, like increasing the distance off the coast of countries like Somalia, hi-pressure water hoses in some instance, increasing speed in attempt to outrun the pirates speedboats and similar defensive measures. These are merely stop-gap measures and do not deter these attacks. In addition, having on-board unarmed security teams has recently proven ineffective and possibly increases the danger. To protect shipping interests and vessels security escort vessels ( private ) have to be used. Close support escort vessels ( armed crew ) is the only realistic solution to the piracy problem. One the US company provides this services, the only one in the world is: Unitel.com I believe they are located in New York.
John Schwartz
former merchant Marine Deck officer