It's really unbelievable that these ships don't have some sort of security detail onboard.
These pirate ever mess with ships from Russia or Israel?
They do that often enough and soon there will be no pirates.
I read somewhere that arming a cargo ship is illegal due to international law. Because of this technicality, third parties such as Blackwater are becomming a interesting idea to shippers, cause they have thier own boat that can patrol along side.
Scott, you are correct, the SW Pacific, especially the straits around Indonesia and Malaysia, is crawling with pirates. For some reason only the Somalis are getting the press, probably because the US sometimes gets involved with them. Indonesia and Malaysia won't let us get involved in anti-piracy, probably because the pirates are state-sponsored, just like the olden days. The Somalis are free-lancers, so nobody is there to cover for them.
The Straits of Malaca have been a pirate haven for centuries now, and nothing has changed except the weapons used. The Somalis may or may not be state sponsored, it all depends on who you consider is in control of the state there, it's pretty much been in dispute for a long time. The US Navy does occasionally set up patrol in the SoM.
Is there a Somali state??????
Even IF there were some sort of candy-a$$ international law about arms on civilian merchant ships, you'd be a fool to abide by it. I'm with you, Henning -- a Barrett 50 would be a super nice little deterrent. Maybe a Streetsweeper for close-in work. Kinda lumpy under the bunk though.
Somalia is a Republican and Libertarian paradise. No taxes and no government.
Somalia is a Republican and Libertarian paradise. No taxes and no government.
Plus, haven't I heard stories about various para-military groups which would purposely enter some of these areas in order to engage pirates? Kind of bait them in to blast them? Henning?
All I need is funding, I'll do it, kinda like Paul Watson taking on the world whaling fleets. It doesn't take a bunch of money, but it isn't free.