So I guess according to this story, Blackwater is sending a ship. We’ll see how that old ship they bought holds up. I would be interested to hear what weapons systems they brought with them. I would highly doubt that they only brought a couple of pistols or rifles. Hell, if that is all they brought, then if I was a pirate I would try to take Blackwater’s ship and grab that helicopter. LOL
Seriously though, that will be great for them to be able to throw a helicopter up and see any trouble before it shows up. The thing that concerns me though, are the days when the helicopter cannot go up or when their one helicopter has a possible break down or needs maintenance. Or god forbid, the thing crashes or they have to do an emergency landing on the shore. How the Somalis would react to a Blackwater helicopter would be interesting to say the least. I am sure they have worked out these issues, and will really work them out once they are operational. –Head Jundi
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Blackwater sends warship to Gulf of Aden
David Osler – Friday 17 October 2008
BLACKWATER Worldwide — the US private military contractor embroiled in controversy over its actions in Iraq — has sent a private sector warship equipped with helicopters to the Gulf of Aden, and is offering its services to shipowners concerned with Somali piracy.
The vessel, McArthur, is described as a multipurpose unit designed to support military and law-enforcement training, peace-keeping and stability operations.
The ship and its helicopters have the ability to patrol a commercial vessel’s route, thereby avoiding the need to hire security contractors to ride on board.
Blackwater’s move came just hours before the Indian government confirmed that it intends to deploy a warship in the Gulf of Aden to guard its merchant ships from Somali pirates. The Indian ship will join assets from Russia, Malaysia and a multinational western-dominated coalition in the troubled waters.
Blackwater justifies its presence in the area commercially by pointing to the increased bills for shipowners operating in the region, including massive insurance hikes, double-pay danger money for seafarers, and ransom payments where ships are captured.
Blackwater Worldwide executive vice-president Bill Matthews said: “We have been contacted by shipowners who say they need our help in making sure goods get to their destination. The McArthur can help us accomplish that.”
Blackwater has ties to the US State Department, providing security for diplomatic personnel in conflict zones. In September last year, its staff were involved in a shoot-out in Baghdad that left 17 civilians dead, in contentious circumstances.
Story Here
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anne E. Tyrrell
October 16, 2008 (703) 852-4320
atyrrell@blackwaterusa.com
BLACKWATER WORLDWIDE’S MARITIME OPERATIONS
READY TO ASSIST SHIPPING INDUSTRY
As Insurance and Pay Rates Soar for Gulf of Aden-bound Shipments,
Blackwater offers Shipping Industry a Solution
MOYOCK, North Carolina (October 16, 2008) – Blackwater Worldwide today announced that its 183
foot ship, the McArthur, stands ready to assist the shipping industry as it struggles with the increasing
problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and elsewhere.
The dramatic increase of pirate attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden has led to parallel cost
increases for the shipping industry. Shipping insurance has risen tenfold this year alone. With the added
danger pay offered to crews willing to make the journey, pirate ransom demands that reach into the
millions, and lengthy negotiations for hijacked ships, if left unaddressed the cost of the piracy boom to the
shipping industry – and consumers buying their goods – will only increase.
“Billions of dollars of goods move through the Gulf of Aden each year,” said Bill Matthews, Executive
Vice President of Blackwater Worldwide. “We have been contacted by ship owners who say they need our
help in making sure those goods get to their destination safely. The McArthur can help us accomplish
that.”
Some shippers have taken the step of arming their crews, or hiring private security to ride onboard cargo
ships. Rather than having armed guards on a cargo vessel, the McArthur’s ability to accompany a ship and
deploy helicopters to patrol the area provides a safer option for the shipping industry.
The McArthur was reconfigured and modified in 2006 and is now a Blackwater Worldwide Maritime
Security Support Craft. The McArthur is a multi-purpose maritime vessel designed to support military and
law enforcement training, peacekeeping, and stability operations worldwide. It is fully equipped with a
helo deck and can store 4,100 gallons of helo fuel. Blackwater’s aviation affiliate can provide the
helicopters, pilots, and maintenance required to support escort missions in the Gulf of Aden.
As a company founded and run by former Navy SEALs, with a 50,000-person database of former military
and law enforcement professionals, Blackwater is uniquely positioned to assist the shipping industry in the
Gulf of Aden and elsewhere.
The International Maritime Bureau estimates that more than 70 ships have been attacked off Somalia since
January. As of October 15, 2008, 11 ships and 200 crew members were still being held for ransom.
Guided by integrity, innovation, accountability, and a desire for a safer world, Blackwater Worldwide
leverages state-of-the-art training facilities, professional program management teams, and innovative
manufacturing and production capabilities to deliver world-class, customer-driven solutions.