Anti-pirate noise makers fail, we need heavy arms: Maersk Alabama mate

SMALL arms, fire hoses and sonic weaponry do not deter pirate attacks because of their rapidly evolving tactics, says Maersk Alabama first mate Shane Murphy, who experienced the first attack on his 1,100-TEU ship in April before it was attacked again last week.

Pirates are reinvesting profits in bigger boats with greater range and heavier fire power, including RPGs, said Mr Murphy, reported BYM Marine and Maritime News.

"It was demonstrated that pirates are willing, able and capable of using deadly force. The industry needs to adapt. We need to stay one step ahead," said Mr Murphy.

"It is highly possible that the pirates are utilising some form of tracking to follow and target specific American vessels like the Alabama," he said.

"The fact that either the Maersk Alabama was targeted or any vessel can be hit twice in seven months is chilling to a mariner. Shipping companies are leaving far too much to chance and playing roulette with American lives and cargo," said Mr Murphy.

Nexus Consulting CEO Kevin Doherty, who heads a Virginia armed civilian contractor firm, said: "When minutes matter, naval forces take hours. When we are talking about RPG attacks, immediate, on-site response is needed. Any response measured in more than mere moments, is not fast enough."

Some 40,000 cargo ships a year traverse the waters of the Gulf of Aden, and attacks by Somali pirates are on the rise. But, the astronomical odds against an attack occurring on a single vessel twice in a short span of time - as occurred with the Alabama - is leading some to believe that the Alabama was targeted by the pirates who are using more sophisticated technology and intelligence than shipping companies seem willing to believe, said the report.

Nexus claims to have reduced the threat of RPG fire by providing a 1,000 metre security barrier, but 80 per cent of US-flagged vessels do not travel with any type of armed security, posing a monumental risk to the safety of crew and cargo. "By providing a 1,000 metre buffer around the vessels that we are protecting, Nexus has effectively deterred at least eight known pirate attacks this year," said Mr Doherty.

(Source: www.schednet.com)