Drug deaths on Captain Phillips ship renew concerns over armed security guards

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There is no doubt that the now widespread use of Private Maritime Security Contractors [PMSCs] – better known to us as armed guards – on ships transiting the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean has been crucial to virtually eradicating the scourge of Somali-based gangs hijacking merchant ships and their crew for vast ransom payments.

Prior to the use of PMSCs, ships relied on ‘best practice’ of fire hoses and loudly played Britney Spears songs to ...