O’Keefe said Nexus hires former U.S. military operatives such as Navy Seals who could disable a pirate skiff before it comes within range to launch a rocket-propelled grenade, the preferred weapon of pirates.
Having a proven deterrent aboard “is actually lowering the cost of kidnap and ransom insurance by as much as 40 percent” for the shipping lines who hire them, she said. -Elizabeth R. O’Keefe, a lawyer in Woburn, Mass., who represents Nexus and Murphy.
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I salute Shane Murphy and Nexus Consulting Group for not beating around the bush, and calling it like it is. Mr. Murphy has witnessed first hand how these pirates operate, and the conclusions that he and his company have come to as to how to deal with these pirates and protect boats is spot on. You must have weapons that give the boat standoff distance, so that these clowns can’t get in close and use their RPG’s. Worse yet, the PKM can reach a boat at an even further distance, and the DShK can reach even further. All of these weapons are floating around in Somalia, and I guarantee that these pirates are investing in even better stuff with all of that money they have been making off of ransoms. You get the picture with this kind of arms race, and as these pirates become more desperate and more ruthless, the boats must have the kind of weapons and skills that will give the boat overwhelming fire superiority and the crews and security must have sound naval warfare strategies to deal with this stuff.
By the way, they are looking for guys to put in their database, and just go through the link for their company here. –Matt
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Somali group puts out call to Seekonk’s Murphy
November 19, 2009
By Thomas J. Morgan and Donita Naylor
SEEKONK, Mass. — Attention Shane Murphy: The Somali Community Association of Ohio wants to take you out to dinner and ask for your help in protecting the Indian Ocean from pirates.
Murphy, of Seekonk, was chief officer of the Maersk Alabama in April when Somali-based pirates took over the ship. He no longer works for Maersk, but is still a merchant marine and consults for a private marine security company.
Bashir Haji, vice president of the Columbus, Ohio, Somali group, tried to reach Murphy on Wednesday after pirates attacking the Maersk Alabama were driven off by the ship’s crew armed with guns. Haji said the group wants to ask Murphy “to come to Columbus to give a speech about his ordeal with the pirates.”
Murphy said Wednesday night that he would consider the invitation. “Personally, I’m just willing to do anything to make it a safer area and help protect the mariners that are working out there,” he said.
“I have many friends in Africa, and I don’t hold anybody accountable for the actions of a few people,” Murphy said from his father’s home in Massachusetts. “I know there’s a lot of good people over there.”
Haji also wanted to ask for Murphy’s help in persuading the international community to “send a lot of money” to build a coast guard.
“They could watch and battle with the pirates,” Haji said. “We want Shane Murphy to be our voice. Somalia has not had a government in 20 years.”
About 45,000 Somalis live in the Columbus area, according to the group’s Web site.
Murphy spoke of the differences between himself and Abdwali Muse, a pirate who threatened Murphy’s life in April and was captured in Wednesday’s attack. “I started going to sea when I was a child; I worked hard and educated myself and made a career for myself. Somebody just handed him a weapon and said, ‘Go see what you can find.’ ” Murphy said he wants to help train Somalians to defend their coast and make a living.
“If I can help give these people an opportunity to learn what I have, maybe we could turn some people around,” he said.
Murphy works for Nexus Consulting Group, which provides armed security in the Gulf of Aden to three major U.S.-flagged shipping companies, said Elizabeth R. O’Keefe, a lawyer in Woburn, Mass., who represents Nexus and Murphy.
Nexus president Kevin Doherty “is very much interested in being a part of the formation of a coast guard to fight piracy,” O’Keefe said.
Murphy said he and Doherty brainstormed Wednesday about “how to make a coast guard.”
“People tend to assume I’m a warmonger,” Murphy said. “But I’m not. I like to educate people there about America, our history, the language. I’d be happy to teach them how to be seamen, how to patrol waters, how to make a life.”
O’Keefe said Nexus hires former U.S. military operatives such as Navy Seals who could disable a pirate skiff before it comes within range to launch a rocket-propelled grenade, the preferred weapon of pirates.
Having a proven deterrent aboard “is actually lowering the cost of kidnap and ransom insurance by as much as 40 percent” for the shipping lines who hire them, she said.
Maersk is not a client of Nexus, she said.
Story here.
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Maersk Alabama Chief Mate Capt. Shane Murphy Says “LRADS Don’t Stop Pirates”
Captain Shane Murphy, Chief Mate of the Maersk Alabama, has seen pirates up close and has observed an increase in weaponry sophistication, tactics and technology.
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) November 20, 2009 — “Obviously, being attacked by pirates is an extremely traumatic event. I am personally still reeling from it. It is vital that we as a society, and an industry, are proactive enough that no other merchant marine is forced to deal with this in the future,” says Captain Shane Murphy, who helped to repel the first attack on the Maersk Alabama. “Unfortunately, small arms, fire hoses and sonic weaponry do not sufficiently deter attacks, due to rapidly-evolving piracy tactics.”
Pirates are reinvesting their profits in bigger boats with greater range and heavier fire power, including RPGs.
“The maritime industry needs to adapt with the pirates. Moreover, we need to stay one step ahead. It was demonstrated earlier this week that pirates are willing, able and capable of using deadly force,” said Captain Murphy.
Over 40,000 cargo vessels annually traverse the hostile waters of the Gulf of Aden, and attacks by Somali pirates are alarmingly on the rise. But, the astronomical odds against an attack occurring on a single vessel twice in a short span of time – as occurred with the Alabama – is leading some to believe that the Alabama was specifically targeted by the pirates who are utilizing more sophisticated technology and intelligence than shipping companies seem willing to believe.
“It is highly possible that the pirates in the Gulf of Aden are utilizing some form of tracking to follow and target specific American vessels like the Alabama,” said Captain Murphy. “The fact of the matter is that either the Maersk Alabama was specifically targeted, or any vessel on this route can be hit twice in seven months. Either option is chilling to a mariner out there trying to maintain innocent passage. Shipping companies are leaving far too much to chance and playing roulette with American lives and cargo.”
“When minutes matter, the naval forces are taking hours to respond,” said Kevin Doherty, CEO of Nexus Consulting, a Virginia-based LLC that arms cargo vessels with elite, ex-military forces trained in counter-piracy. “When we are talking about RPG attacks, immediate, on-site response is what is needed. Any response measured in more than mere moments is simply not fast enough. It is for this specific reason that Nexus provides cargo vessels with a security barrier that goes beyond the range of any tactical RPG weaponry to ensure crew and cargo safety.”
Nexus Consulting Group eliminates the growing threat of the RPG by providing vessels with a 1000 meter security barrier. Dangerously, however, over 80% of US-flagged vessels do not travel with any type of armed security, posing a monumental risk to the safety of crew and cargo. “By providing a 1000 meter buffer around the vessels that we are protecting, Nexus has effectively deterred at least eight known pirate attacks this year,” said Kevin Doherty.
For more information about Nexus Consulting and to receive a free consultation please contact: (703) 980-0293. For legal, please contact (508) 423-5988.
About Nexus Consulting Group of Alexandria, LLCEstablished in 2005, Nexus Consulting is a US veteran owned and operated private security company that places unprecedented focus on US law while actively protecting US citizens, equipment and cargo from the threats of terrorism and criminal activity. Nexus Consulting is currently taking the lead on international agreements regarding maritime commerce under the Nexus Solution.
Founded by a former US Special Agent and staffed by former US intelligence operatives, former Navy Seals and former Special Forces, teams of elite Nexus security personnel are already deployed throughout the world (including the Gulf of Aden) and stand ready to protect US vessels against any armed threat in full compliance with US maritime laws.
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Employment
We are currently expanding our embarked Maritime Security teams. We are seeking ideal candidates with various experience including sniper/DM’s, Navy & Marine Spec Ops, USCG, and many other nautical skills.
Please fill out the below information and our staff will follow up with you. Thank you.
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Please visit Nexus online at: www.ncga.us
Story here.