This is the press release by the company in regards to that incident where the guards abandoned ship off the coast of Somalia after being attacked by pirates. I am kind of curious, how do you use “sustained non-lethal resistance” against RPG’s and AK 47’s? I also love how the company really promotes the “non-lethal” concept all over the website. I wonder how many Somali pirates cruise the internet, and read this stuff? I imagine with all that money they keep getting off of take downs, they have bought not only sat phones and GPS units, but also computers. Hell, Ali is probably reading this stuff on his brand new Mac, while chewing on some Khat right now.
I will say it. This is crap. To sell this concept of non-lethal security services, in a very lethal area, is just crap. It is wrong to sell the shipping companies on the concept, it is pathetic that the shipping companies are buying off on this, it is almost criminal to put your guard’s lives at risk like this, and a contractor that signed on for this kind of job should know better. Not to mention that the client is getting some terrible protective service for the money.
My feelings about this is simple, defend the ship and the client with the appropriate force(lethal in this situation), and get out of this business of using less than lethal in really dangerous places. Obviously the LRAD and water cannon did not work in this situation, and the pirates are wising up. God help us if they decide to wear ear plugs and a scuba mask on future attacks? –Matt
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MV BISCAGLIA : PIRATE ATTACK 28 Nov 08
APMSS PRESS RELEASE 2
15:00 UTC 28th Nov 2008
Nick Davis, Director of APMSS, has issued the following statement:
Attributable quote
“APMSS security team embarked upon MV BISCAGLIA came under sustained and heavy attack from pirates earlier this morning. Reports remain confused however we believe that the embarked 3 man APMSS security team (comprising former British military servicemen) were able to mount sustained, non-lethal, resistance, denying the attacker’s access to the ship long enough for the ship’s operating crew to seek safety below decks and to summon assistance from coalition warships.
Reports suggest that the security team were only finally overwhelmed when attackers gained access to the ship and continued to fire upon the embarked security team.
I have spoken with my team leader on the phone and he informs me that the level of violence was unprecedented and forced them reluctantly to leave the vessel after every effort was made to ensure the safety of the ships crew, further whilst in the water the security team were again fired upon. The hijacked vessel with pirates in control then attempted to run them down”