WASHINGTON — The shipping fleet should be protected from pirates by arming senior crew members, or not — depending on who was speaking Thursday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Maersk Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips or his boss, Maersk Inc. Chairman John P. Clancey.
"It would be my personal preference that a limited number of crew aboard the vessel have access to effective weaponry,” Phillips told the panel.
But doing that could expose sailors to a tactical escalation in violence — and, Clancey said later, the corporation to liability.
Phillips advised Congress on Thursday to work with other nations to help crews protect themselves.
Arming the captain and perhaps four of the crew would help, Phillips said. So would having retired or active military special forces aboard.
"And I don’t mean a security guard. ... I mean someone who’s specifically trained,” Phillips said.
The International Maritime Bureau recorded 111 attacks in the waters off the Horn of Africa in 2008, almost double the number the year before. It has recorded at least 84 attacks in the first quarter of 2009.
About 300 non-U.S. crew members remain in Somali captivity aboard 18 hijacked vessels, according to the Senate panel.
by the associated press
"It would be my personal preference that a limited number of crew aboard the vessel have access to effective weaponry,” Phillips told the panel.
But doing that could expose sailors to a tactical escalation in violence — and, Clancey said later, the corporation to liability.
Phillips advised Congress on Thursday to work with other nations to help crews protect themselves.
Arming the captain and perhaps four of the crew would help, Phillips said. So would having retired or active military special forces aboard.
"And I don’t mean a security guard. ... I mean someone who’s specifically trained,” Phillips said.
The International Maritime Bureau recorded 111 attacks in the waters off the Horn of Africa in 2008, almost double the number the year before. It has recorded at least 84 attacks in the first quarter of 2009.
About 300 non-U.S. crew members remain in Somali captivity aboard 18 hijacked vessels, according to the Senate panel.
by the associated press
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