molten_dragon

Most likely. That would be there decision though.

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donc

Picture this as a deterrent, a big fully loaded, wobbly container ship is cruising about fifty miles off the Somalia coast. A couple of fast pirate craft come rushing out to “greet/attack” them.

Unknown to the pirates a fully armed Apache Helo is hidden behind the containers on the top deck. Say goodbye to the pirates; anyone think that the word would get around in Somalia’s pirate community that the container ships just might contain something besides containers?

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Orion

Armed ships coming into international ports creates a new level to trade that I think would complicate international relations. I know there are real risks and situations that would call for arms, but I can't help but think about the security dilemma. Armed ships of any kind means a tactical threat, however small, to the nations being approached. Do we really want to create a situation where there is, in security terms, potentially no difference between actual warships and armed merchant ships when it comes to conflicts?

Part of the reason why trade can proceed in certain war zones is because merchant ships are considered neutral. There would certainly be economic consequences to arming merchant ships, among others.

The number of ships actually being attacked by pirates is incredibly low. The media has taken a few cases and inflated them to unrealistic proportions.

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repeter

Or a single M60 Machine gun...those pirates aren't very heavily armed, and they aren't exactly disciplined in the face of incoming fire...

An Apache might be overkill though...

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Crunch

Dead men won't sue you.

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spud_meister

why not mount a few machineguns around the deck that can then be dismantled and locked up when entering port, and taken out again in risky waters, and train the crew in the basic operation of them to go along with their other training.