COSCO to put armed guards aboard its ships

COSCO Shipping is reported to be spending $12 million on armed guards and other measures to protect its vessels from pirates, according to China Military News.

COSCO will buy bullet-proof vests and on-board equipment to deter attacks and protect its ships and crews in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

According to The South China Morning Post, Cosco Shipping’s chief operating officer, Guo Jin, said the measures are necessary for those ships that are unable to avoid high-risk areas off Somalia. He also said that the company plans to hire British security companies that use former Special Air Service troops or Royal Marines.

While COSCO has declined to comment, the Shipping Gazette reports that some Hong Kong shipowners, including Pacific Basin Shipping, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport and Valles Steamship, have hired armed guards to protect their ships against pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

The UN Security Council has warned that Somali pirates are attacking growing numbers of ships in the Indian Ocean, and the attacks are becoming more violent and extreme. Furthermore, attacks have become increasingly common off the coast of India as pirates seek to evade the international maritime force patrolling the waters off Somalia.

Quelle: eyefortransport
Portal: www.logistik-express.com