How are Mariners to Protect Themselves Against Piracy? Part 6

Other non-lethal devices include:

The Dazzle gun. This looks like a large shoulder mounted combat rifle and projects a two –wavelength laser system that “dazzles” attackers with extreme intensity flashes and temporarily blinds the target.

Non lethal slippery foam. It’s a mixture of “mud, flocculent and water” that makes the deck as difficult as walking on a frozen pond.

Remote controlled fire monitors. This has the advantage of being operated from remote areas, thus keeping crew out of the line of fire. The disadvantage is determining exactly where to situate the monitors.

Electronic fence.  Secure Ship is the trade name for a 9000 volt electrifying fence which, when touched, also activates spotlights and triggers an alarm. The shock is said to be painful but non-fatal (according to the manufacturer). Also said to be effective against stowaways, the cost is listed at $30,000 for a medium-sized vessel.

Razor wire.  Rigging rolls of wire around the outside of the deck was reportedly tried as a last resort by a shipping company for a pair of feeder ships operating in the Gulf of Aden. The ships were never attacked so its effectiveness is unknown. However, the crew had so much trouble handling the wire—cuts hands, sleeves getting caught, having to remove it during cargo and re-hang it—that the idea was abandoned.

The company pulled the vessels out of the region.

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