Business | Shipping
Shippers seek new ways to tackle piracy
Last week's escalation of the piracy crisis off Somalia has fuelled the continuing debate on the best way for shipowners to protect vessels against piracy.
- By Robert Wright, Financial Times
- Published: 00:04 November 24, 2008
Last week's escalation of the piracy crisis off Somalia has fuelled the continuing debate on the best way for shipowners to protect vessels against piracy.
The US navy and others have recommended that shipowners arrange for vessels to carry armed guards to deter attacks.
However, shipowners and international maritime groups are universally opposed to such an idea. They argue that having armed men on ships could simply encourage pirates - who have access to substantial funds after capturing 39 ships this year - to use ever-heavier weapons in attacks.
It is also illegal under the regulations of several major flag states, which register and supervise ships, and the authorities in several port countries, for merchant vessels to carry arms. Instead, shipowners argue they should be receiving still-better and more co-ordinated naval protection than they are currently.
They argue that keeping the high seas open to commerce is a legal obligation of any signatory of the United Nations law of the sea convention.
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