Blackwater: We’ll defend against pirates

[unhappycamper]

Blackwater: We’ll defend against pirates
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Oct 18, 2008 8:14:59 EDT

The military contractor Blackwater Worldwide is offering to protect merchant ships from pirates, the company announced Thursday, advertising the security services of its ship for use off the coast of Somalia or elsewhere.

A rash of pirate attacks has driven up the cost of insurance and pay for crew members aboard the thousands of merchant vessels that pass off the Horn of Africa, the company said, making it comparatively economical to engage its ship, the McArthur, and its crew of ex-military specialists.

“Billions of dollars of goods move through the Gulf of Aden each year,” said Blackwater vice president Bill Matthews in the announcement. “We have been contacted by ship owners who say they need our help in making sure those goods get to their destination safely. The McArthur can help us accomplish that.”

Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrell told Navy Times that the company has initially proposed protecting individual vessels — for example, the owner of a dry cargo ship would pay to have an escort by the McArthur as it passed off the lawless coast of Somalia, where pirates now are ransoming 11 ships.

But she didn’t rule out the idea that a shipping company could also engage the McArthur to loiter in a heavily traveled patch of ocean, patrolling for pirates or responding to requests for help.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_blackwater_pirates_101708w/%2e

[C_U_L8R]

1. but can they resist his noodley appendage