We understand the needs of the marketplace and are driven by our expertise in the security arena. Today's world is replete with geopolitical, cultural and ideological tensions which creates risks that need to be mitigated.
Commercial shipping companies are resorting to employing private security firms to combat maritime piracy in the waters off the Somalian coast, because foreign naval forces operating in the area are limited in what measures they can use against pirates, according to security experts.
Foreign navies are only permitted to board vessels if they witness an act of piracy in progress, and pirates operating in the waters off the Gulf of Aden are fully aware of these limitations. They continue to attack shipping in the area despite the presence of American, British, Russian, NATO and other heavily armed foreign naval forces in the region.
Over 20,000 vessels navigate the waters off the Horn of Africa each year, and security companies - many with experience in Afghanistan and Iraq - are now being used to provide companies with intelligence and armed escorts on board vessels.
Commercial shipping companies have been urged to make use of private security companies to protect their vessels by a Royal Navy officer, who acknowledged that foreign navies are limited in what they can do to combat piracy. However, there have been serious legal concerns raised over the use of such companies to tackle piracy. Aware of the potential legal implications of opening fire on vessels suspected of piracy in international waters, security companies say they don't rely only on armed force, but instead provide an intelligence role where threats are identified and avoided.
Although it is estimated that less than one percent of shipping going through the region is attacked, security experts say the consequences of being attacked are high and worth off-setting. In the past twelve months maritime piracy in the region has increased dramatically, with at least 30 ships being attacked and seized this year alone. On October 14, Somalian forces released a Panamanian ship, but a vessel carrying tanks and guns seized on September 26 is still being held by pirates, with its crew of 21 being held hostage.
subscribe
news archive