Poll: Somalian pirates = guns on merchant ships?

[WolfThomas]

As we all know from the recent incident with Somalian pirates, pirate attacks on merchant ships are becoming more and more an international problem.

There has been some debate about giving merchant ships firearms, which was commonplace until the last century, issues such as escalation, legality, and risk of accident have been raised.

Do you believe merchant ships should carry firearms if passing through pirate waters?

I was surprised when I found they didn't, I personally would want guns on my vessel thats passing through pirate infested waters. Not small ones either like pistols and shotguns, but something like M16s and SAWs in a locked room only accessible to the captain.

You can't tell me that a SAW, M60 or even a .50cal loaded with armour piercing rounds wouldn't cut a pirate boat (and its crew) to ribbons.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Only if they're passing pirate waters. If not then no.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Only if they're passing pirate waters. If not then no.

I'm with Noel on this one.

 

[WolfThomas]

Only if they're passing pirate waters. If not then no.

Sorry thats what I meant.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Only if they're passing pirate waters. If not then no.

I'm with Noel on this one.

What? Someone recognised my avatar!

Cookie for you good sir.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

The Aden gulf is already full of ships from navies worldwide.
Still, maybe for extra protection.

 

[Baldrek]

No, I do not think that will be necessary. Of course it would make traveling safer, but having firearms on board is not an acceptable risk.
Many shipping companies have begun using water cannons aboard their vessels to keep the pirates at bay, and we even have armed patrols in these waters, so firearms aboard the ships shouldn't be necessary.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Only if they're passing pirate waters. If not then no.

I'm with Noel on this one.

What? Someone recognised my avatar!

Cookie for you good sir.

Absolutely. LICD is one of the best webcomics out there, and that's before you take the daily updates into consideration.

 

[Princeps senatus]

One thing that seems to be in many video games (FPS) are turrets. How hard is it to have a turret with automatic aiming set on the side of a ship, just turn it on during the night and it would shoot anything getting close. Sure it might be not be cheap but it's better than paying millions in ransom money.

On topic though, it would seem better to have some short of a security force on the ships. I doubt untrained individuals can handle armed pirates.

 

[Jadak]

Just out of curiosity, what is the argument(s) against merchant vessels being armed?

 

[WolfThomas]

Blackwater actually offered an escort ship with helicopter gunship but it was way too pricey. Training or hiring a few fellows who can work a machine gun and do odd jobs would be cheaper.

 

[WolfThomas]

Just out of curiosity, what is the argument(s) against merchant vessels being armed?

Legality, some ports won't accept them with guns, difficult rules of engagement. Accidents on board. Escalation, pirates may kill crews who are armed.

 

[Paksenarrion]

In an unrelated note, there sure are a lot of out of work war veterans fresh from Iraq out there...too bad they can't transfer their fighting experience into some kind of job that needs them...oh, well...

 

[Tech Team FTW!]

Yes, but really the government should patrol better and actually attempt to root out the pirates.

 

[Bob_Marley42]

No, they shouldn't, any civilian vessels passing through the area should be placed in convoys with the military ships already there. Its the only proven way of getting merchant shipping past a dispursed, unpredictable force operating in a large area. Worked in WWI & II and the somalian pirates are alot less organized and have a much larger gap in technology than the kriegsmarine ever did.

 

[WolfThomas]

No, they shouldn't, any civilian vessels passing through the area should be placed in convoys with the military ships already there. Its the only proven way of getting merchant shipping past a dispursed, unpredictable force operating in a large area. Worked in WWI & II and the somalian pirates are alot less organized and have a much larger gap in technology than the kriegsmarine ever did.

Problem is thats costly and a war hasn't been declared.

 

[Pipotchi]

One thing that seems to be in many video games (FPS) are turrets. How hard is it to have a turret with automatic aiming set on the side of a ship, just turn it on during the night and it would shoot anything getting close. Sure it might be not be cheap but it's better than paying millions in ransom money.

On topic though, it would seem better to have some short of a security force on the ships. I doubt untrained individuals can handle armed pirates.

Actually I imagine automatic movement sensing sentry guns would be quite hard to fit to a merchant ship, assuming they actually exist.

Probably a bad day for any tourist or fishing ships they pass in the night as well

 

[Banhaze]

Arr! A return to the old days of privarrrteering! Gu-Harr.

 

[Helnurath]

As we all know from the recent incident with Somalian pirates, pirate attacks on merchant ships are becoming more and more an international problem.

There has been some debate about giving merchant ships firearms, which was commonplace until the last century, issues such as escalation, legality, and risk of accident have been raised.

Do you believe merchant ships should carry firearms if passing through pirate waters?

I was surprised when I found they didn't, I personally would want guns on my vessel thats passing through pirate infested waters. Not small ones either like pistols and shotguns, but something like M16s and SAWs in a locked room only accessible to the captain.

You can't tell me that a SAW, M60 or even a .50cal loaded with armour piercing rounds wouldn't cut a pirate boat (and its crew) to ribbons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Task_Force_150

We need more warships in the area.

 

[johnman]

Why dont they just fill a storeroom and keep the weapons under lock and key until there needed.