suck on that, somali pirates!

Supposedly the reason cargo ships don't arm their crew is that it would void their insurance policy on the ship.

 

You would think arming the crew (or hiring somebody) would be seen as an extra insurance policy ..

Fuck it. Put some Q-ships down there. If you're a pirate, are you getting a cargo you can resell/ hold hostage ... or are you getting a bait boat with armed mercenaries just waiting for you?

 

You would. Insurance companies don't apparently.

 

Ah, but see my edit.

Funny ... you always struck me as a shoot-first kind of guy.

 

Oooh, I like that idea. "Hijack THIS bitch!

 

When you care enough to hire the best.

 

In light of recent events, I guarantee you Insurance companies will soon be re-writing that portion of their policies. And the new policy of ships firing back will put a quick end to the Somali piracy epidemic.

 

I wouldn't count on that.
The reason insurance companies frown on armed crews is that the crews on these ships aren't necessarily made up entirely of the most stable of our fellow citizens.

 

This week's South Park was about Somali Pirates... pretty damn funny.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/225091/

 

There are also ports in countries around the world where bringing weapons into port -- not even necessarily taking them off the boat -- is seen as an act of aggression and worthy of getting you locked up in some of the finest jails on the planet.

 

Earlier this year, pirates got a ransom drop by air in exchange for a tanker, but their getaway boat capsized and several pirates drowned. The families collected the cash as it washed ashore with the bodies, where they were reported to be drying out the bills.

 

Pirates rounded up by the Spanish Navy, turned over to the Seychelles Coast Guard.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_re_af/piracy_30