Hval is correct; the area covered by the pirates is vast and growing almost daily - in that the pirates are prepared to travel further in search of 'targets'.
Whilst the Russians deal with pirates in what might be described as a 19th century approach - and very effectively too in terms of the fact that fewer Russian merchant ships seem to have been targetted in recent months - navies have no legal powers other than returning captured pirates back to their homes! A ludicrous situation even if the pirates kit is sent to the bottom. And I always thought/believed that piracy on the high seas was illegal under the terms of international maritime law...
NATO, et al, needs to consider the introduction of convoys. With the number of warships from different countries patrolling the area there should be sufficient warships. The problems, as in the early days of WWII convoy organisation, will be with the merchant navy captains and the ships owners.
Last edited by TSR2Eagle; 2nd Mar 2011 at 18:31.
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