Indian Govt. mulling idea of having armed guards on merchant ships
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2689962/posts
The Indian Government is mulling over the idea of having armed escorts on merchant ships akin to those appointed in airlines in the wake of an increase in the number of attacks by Somali pirates.
The decision is under consideration after Indian ship owners sought the government's permission to have guards on ships as a defensive mechanism.
The hijacking of ships near the coast of Somalia has cost the shipping industry millions of dollars. Pirates have continued to attack foreign ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, defying an armada of warships trying to protect the key maritime route.
Armed and trained personnel on board would be much more effective than naval ships sending commandos as the merchant vessels would have already been boarded by pirates. These guards will escort and maintain control of vessels to prevent hijacking or acts of terrorism.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has also clarified its stance on the use of private armed security guards to defend merchant ships against attacks by Somali pirates. The International Maritime Organisation guidelines stipulate that the decision to appoint armed escorts will be taken by individual government.
"India is considering providing armed guards on merchant ships and in this regard Director General (Shipping) will have to seek approval from the Indian Government," said a well-placed government source when asked if armed guards could be allowed on merchant ship.
The source added: "Indian Navy will support the proposal to have ship marshals on board merchant vessels in consultation with the Ministry of Defence."
On Saturday night, Somali pirates attacked an Indian Navy warship in the Arabian Sea, believing it to be a merchant ship, before being captured by marine commandos. In the biggest ever haul in anti-piracy operations; the INS Kalpeni arrested 61 pirates from a pirate mother ship Vega 5, 600 nautical miles off the country's west coast.
Somali pirates have hijacked a total of 174 merchant vessels from January 14, 2008, till March 11, 2011. According to the Piracy Reporting Center of the International Maritime Bureau, a total of 217 vessels were attacked last year, resulting in 47 hijackings.
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“India is also reportedly loosening up the rules of engagement procedures for its navy to allow a larger range of offensive actions.”
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/indian-ships-may-get-armed-anti-pirate-guards/
India doing what Obama won’t do.
A self-described pirate in Somalia who gave his name as Bile Hussein
I guess I don’t understand why the international maritime navies don’t form convoys. That would put an end to all this. Hijackers would not attack or even get close to an armed convoy.
Easy to see why G_D has wiped us out to start over so many times.
The Indians are simply pissed.
They stand flabbergasted at the weak kneed response of the West when maritime law makes the punishment for piracy abundantly clear.
And the Navy is just itching to go after the pirates and this clown may have just done that with his threats.
And anyway, Somali pirates will not find life much fun inside an Indian prison, who knows when they’ll come to trial.
There is no sane explanation why piracy cannot be obliterated. The people attack in motor boats for pete’s sake!
Problem solved.
“The navy captured 61 pirates fleeing the battle and the fire that broke out aboard the hijacked vessel. The battle is the latest example of the piracy trade’s turn toward increased violence.
A pirate in Somalia threatened Indian sailors and the government with targeted attacks in retaliation for the arrests.”
The 61 should simply disappear, never to be seen again.
Piracy should bring a one-way ticket to Davy Jone’s locker.
Nothing will work until pirate bodies start washing ashore by the hundreds. Daily.
There is now a war
I don’t think the pirates should screw with India
Bravado kills
Perhaps Indian Gurkhas could have a little talk with the pirates.......Just saying.