Combating Piracy: New Weapons To Fight An Old Menace

Say the word 'Pirate' and most people smile as they imagine a one-eyed, peg-legged, sword-carrying drunkard looking for a chest of gold. The vast majority of the population don't understand, or don't want to believe, that piracy is very much still a modern problem. And it's getting worse. Modern day pirates are not the semi-harmless swashbucklers depicted in the movies. They carry grenade launchers and automatic weapons, use aggressive tactics-often hurting or killing innocent people-and they are getting away with millions of dollars in ransoms.

Combating piracy has become a major priority, and it's harder than it may sound. Due to the laws of many countries and maritime regulations, simply arming ships with automatic weapons is not an option. Less-lethal options are needed, and modern technology is emerging to meet the challenge.

Electric fences have been used for decades to keep cattle in, now they are being used to keep pirates out. Electric cables are strung around the perimeter of the ship outside of the gunwale, and when and intruder touches it, an alarm goes off and a 9,000-volt shock is delivered to the bad guys, knocking them back into the water. A variation of the electric fence is the electric lifeline, which works the same way--an unsuspecting pirate tries to grab the line and WHAMMO!--crispy critters.

Long-range acoustic devices, or LRADS have been introduced, and in 2005 the cruise ship Seabourn Spirit actually used one with success. LRADS deliver an ear-piercing sound blast that causes a would-be assailant to temporarily lose their bearings, allowing the vessel the chance to get away.

Night Vision Goggles have been used in combat by Military forces for years, but now they are becoming useful weapons in fighting high seas piracy. The bad guys use them to scope out potential targets, so it only makes sense for ships to turn the tables and be on the lookout for suspicious vessels approaching in the dark.

Non-Lethal Lasers are being demonstrated to be an effective deterrent against pirate attacks on commercial vessels. Usable in both night and daytime conditions, the laser has the ability to issue a visual warning to pirates at distances above 2km, and, like the LRADS, can disorient attackers as they get closer. The theory is that the intense beam of light will make it difficult for gunmen to fix on the target and ward off the attack.

Of course, the military has the big, bad boys of the less-lethal weapons. HERF, ADS, Silent Guardian, Pain Ray-- thay are all based on RADAR technology, focusing microwaves at the target and heating their skin instantly to intolerabe levels. These units have incredible range, in some cases hundreds of meters, and are supposed to be very effective.

sources: professionalmariner.com, news.discovery.com, baesystems.com, yachtpals.com photo: baesystems.com

Back to

Captain Kujo's Drysuits & Waterproof Bags

Home