Seals against pirates

The Danish navy wants to introduce seals on board freighters off the coast of Somalia.

Admiral Danish Fleet Headquarters wants to introduce elite military units on board freighters off the coast of Somalia so that would-be pirates meet heavy resistance if they try to board ship.

"We have a plan that works like a pilot system in which freighters either take on security guards or soldiers when they enter the area, and land them on another vessel when they leave the area," says Per Bigum Christensen of Admiral Danish Fleet Headquarters.

Commodore Bigum Christensen is the operational commander of the United Nations-sanctioned 10 vessels of Task Force 150 which is attgempting to protect international shipping in the piracy-prone waters off Somalia.

"About half of the vessels have private security companies on board, and we can see that it works. It's a sensitive issue, but it works," says Comm. Bigum Christensen.

Upping the ante
Despite an increase in the number of patrolling warships, pirates continue to hijack vessels in the vast area. The Danish operational command of Task Force 150 is therefore negotiating with U.S. Fifth Fleet Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain on the details of the plan.

Hitherto, shipping companies and sailors' organisations have been concerned about escalating the conflict with pirates for fear of battles on board vessels.

"Our concern has been who should protect the vessels. We don't want a privatisation of the conflict with security companies on board - but if we're looking at regular soldiers with a mandate from the United Nations, NATO or the European Union it seems like a good idea," says Danmarks Rederiforening Deputy Director Jan Fritz Hansen.

Only part of plan
Commodore Bigum Christensen says that soldiers on board vessels is only part of the plan.

"There will continue to be warships in the area, but we would be able to use fewer than we have at the moment if the vessels have enough helicopters that can be called up by soldiers if an attack is under way;" the Commodore says.

Legal
Over and above the guarding system, the plan also involves setting up a legal system that can deal with captured pirates.

This could be an international court, a holding centre for pirates or even a special agreement with Kenya to try them there.

"The third element is to have some UN troops on the Somali coast who can police the area and carry out coastguard duties," says Commodore Bigum Christensen.