Newsroom Blog
Dangers of arming crew
By Lloyds List Comment
Thursday 29 October 2009
IT COMES as no surprise that almost half of the seafarers surveyed by Anglo-Dutch maritime union Nautilus International favour carrying guns to defend themselves against pirate attacks. The spirit of self-defence is easy to grasp, but as a policy it would be disaster.
This paper has argued that the use of armed security guards would be inevitable unless governments find a greater will to defend shipping transiting pirate-infested waters.
This came in response to the chief executive of Iranian tanker company NITC, who argued at a conference that the use of such guards was the most cost-effective way to deter pirate attacks (although he subsequently said that he did not employ such guards on his vessels).
We do not advocate steps that would escalate violence, but we stick to our stance that the mere pressure of the situation will force companies to consider such drastic action unless governments apply a more vigorous response, as difficult and as costly as that might be.
Armed guards could conceivably be an effective deterrent, although there are many unknowns and a vast landscape of liability that would emerge in any engagement. Allowing or encouraging individual seafarers to carry weapons is a step into an even more chaotic unknown.
In response to the Nautilus survey, International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations secretary-general Rodger MacDonald said relatively few crew members had been killed, although this could change if seafarers started shooting back.
Giles Noakes, security specialist at shipowner organisation BIMCO, reiterated the group’s strong stance against the arming of seafarers, adding: “Who would train the seafarers? Who would be responsible for the rules of engagement in a multinational crew?”
Both commentators sound the right note, and it would be tempting to imagine allowing seafarers to bear arms as the kind of solution in which biblical justice always prevails. But such solutions only emerge victorious in Hollywood westerns.
In truth, seafarers are innocent targets in a dilemma that can only be mitigated by unified government naval protection and, ultimately, by solving the complex political woes of Somalia and its neighbours. Encouraging seafarers to shoot back would only endanger seafarers’ lives.
Comments (1)
Comment by
Captain Louis Crole
- Tuesday 3 November 2009
I whole heartedly support the idea of NOT arming seafarers. It would definitely be more dangerous for all concerned.
Post your comment
Recent activity
- Green challenge
- Weight checks
- Spotlight on Greece
- Collective action
- Europe's failings
- Rule B twists and turns
- Baltic Max lessons
- Positive side to China
- Bulking up on gloom
- Stowaway solution
- All eyes on Greece
- Up the ante
- Student politics
- A queuing mentality
- Power with responsibility
- Borrowers beware
- Hanjin Heavy tactics
- No easy way out
- A bad benchmark
- What's in a name?
- Rethink the rethink
- Slow steaming is good
- Queue here for rescue
- Pay up or shut up
- Running out of patience
- Value for money?
- United front
- Think before you shoot
