British to Allow Armed Guards to Combat Sea Piracy

[Razgovory]

This BBC article has some additional information :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15510467

Notably :

"But armed guards would only be permitted while passing through dangerous waters, such as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden"

and

"Mr Cook said many armed guards were former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, and he added: "With the current redundancies it has provided them with an ideal place to go."

..........which would appear to agree with grumbler. Rightly or wrongly (IMO rightly) the British are not generally in favour of issuing arms to untrained people, believing it will simply increase the number of deaths and general carnage.

You know, actually having a company provide guards that only serve on the short distance where the Pirates attack is not a bad idea.  You could have the extra security board the ship at one edge of the pirate waters and disembark at the other end.  The ships won't have to be outfitted for exta crew and security wouldn't have to sit around in peaceful waters with nothing to do.  They would always stay in dangerous waters and through experience develop a good idea of Pirate tactics.

[Maximus]

I sense a business opportunity.

[Neil]

Shouldn't this thread be about dreadnoughts?