Armed guards on board could significantly reduce attacks by Somali pirates, so shipowners must overcome their fear of using them, according to the main speakers at a seminar on maritime security in London yesterday.
The speakers pointed out that the number of incidents in the Gulf of Aden has declined, but at the same time, more ships have been attacked and hijacked in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, where Somali pirates use motherships to avoid the patrolling international forces.
Most companies have limited safeguards in the form of razor wire, water hoses and safe rooms, instead of employing armed guards.
“Understandably, there continues to be a lot of debate about the merits and consequences of employing armed guards on merchant ships and we understand that, in an ideal world, this is not what the industry would want to be doing”, said James Wilkes, managing director of security firm Gray Page, one of the organizers of the seminar.
“However, it is time for shipping to emerge from its comfort zone and face up to the facts and realities of the threat posed by Somali pirates.”
Dom Dee, founder of escort boat provider Protection Vessels International, said that demand for his company’s services has increased and that there was “palpable relief” from masters and crews to have armed guards on board their ships.
The speakers pointed out that the number of incidents in the Gulf of Aden has declined, but at the same time, more ships have been attacked and hijacked in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, where Somali pirates use motherships to avoid the patrolling international forces.
Most companies have limited safeguards in the form of razor wire, water hoses and safe rooms, instead of employing armed guards.
“Understandably, there continues to be a lot of debate about the merits and consequences of employing armed guards on merchant ships and we understand that, in an ideal world, this is not what the industry would want to be doing”, said James Wilkes, managing director of security firm Gray Page, one of the organizers of the seminar.
“However, it is time for shipping to emerge from its comfort zone and face up to the facts and realities of the threat posed by Somali pirates.”
Dom Dee, founder of escort boat provider Protection Vessels International, said that demand for his company’s services has increased and that there was “palpable relief” from masters and crews to have armed guards on board their ships.