Private navy planned to counter pirate raids

The National ^ | May 13, 2012 | David Black

[bkopto]

FTA:

The aim is to stop the pirates before they reach the merchant ship, and the emphasis is on non-lethal measures. Use of offensive weapons will be a last resort.

[Moleman]

The cannons don’t thunder there’s nothing to plunder….

[thackney]

The CEP will buy insurance and use that to cover the ships in its convoys, so owners will no longer need to pay premiums, or hire security.

Can you imagine the first ship owner that says "no thanks, I don't need insurance around Somalia, I'll depend on the Somalia Navy instead".

No? Me neither.

[SnakeDoctor]

Better treat ‘em right ... otherwise, you’re just training future pirates. If I’m not mistaken, the original Pirates of the Spanish Main were disgruntled former privateers.

SnakeDoc

[dfwgator]

I’d rather have the Russian Navy patrolling the waters. After all, sharks gotta eat, too.

[Jeff Vader]

will eye patches be mandatory this time around?

[oneolcop]

Wow! Will they be taking passengers willing to work for free?

[JohnBrowdie]

the problem with a private navy is . . . what will it shoot at after the pirates are gone?

[Turbo Pig]

I wonder how long before the first Letters of Marquee (or whatever the modern equivalent is) are issued.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The Merchant Marine version of Blackwater.

[forgotten man]

This could become a sport like Marlin fishing or Tuna fishing. There is nothing like the thrill of the hunt. Instead of rods and reels the sportsmen can use 50 caliber machine guns to get their prizes.

[Londo Molari]

“The cannons don’t thunder there’s nothing to plunder….”

...I’m an over-forty victim of fate. arriving too late. arriving too late...

[HiTech RedNeck]

Letters of marque and reprisal anybody?

Betcha this private navy would catch more pirates than the politically correctness bound US navy would.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The various nations should equip "Merchant Raiders" to deal with the problem. Such ships were used successfully in WWI. "Q-ships" were used successfully in WWII against German U-Boats. The Q-Ship was an armed war ship disguised as a merchant. The Merchant Raiders were merchant ships that had been heavily armed with 6 inch guns. As they approached the victim the side would drop and the gun was revealed.

Imagine the final look and last words of a Somali pirate as the side dropped and the concealed gun fired!

[HiTech RedNeck]

It ain’t an either-or, but contracting this navy might give a merchant a discount on his piracy insurance.

[DonaldC]

“Betcha this private navy would catch more pirates than the politically correctness bound US navy would.”

Amen to that!

[BwanaNdege]

Not sure that’s such a good idea.

These “security forces” are advertizing that “Use of offensive weapons will be a last resort” and their maximum firepower will be a .50 cal.

Any astute Somali pirate worth his miraa will immediately buy a 23mm or larger and pop the security escorts before they are within .50 cal range.

You might as well be wearing a blue helmet.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I forgot to refer to the “Seeadler” a WWI German Navy commerce raider.

[RightOnline]

"The ships will be equipped with fast semi-inflatables, called ribs, an array of non-lethal counter-measures, and 0.50 calibre heavy machine guns."

For the love of God, why?????????

Idiots. If you want more lives lost or more kidnap victims....you want millions and millions more in losses from these floating filth, by ALL means just swat their little hinies.

Blow them out of the water into red vapor.

[Vinnie]

...and the emphasis is on non-lethal measures. Use of offensive weapons will be a last resort

IMO a mistake. Hit them hard the first time.

OTOH it will promote escort job security as the pirates aren't eliminated. They will try again, requiring more escorts.