Coast Guard Talks Piracy

Commandant Thad Allen weighs in on piracy with an information rich post on his blog. Very informative. This stood out:

On the vulnerability front, working through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and via the international Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, the U.S. has engaged with the shipping industry to develop self-awareness and self-protection measures that reduce their vulnerability to attack. These most recent attacks against U.S. ships have added to the already heightened sense of urgency, and have raised the possibility of armed security teams as a specific measure to be employed by merchant vessels to reduce their vulnerability to pirates. The Coast Guard, working closely with the maritime industry, will issue a new Maritime Security Directive to address additional security measures authorized and required by U.S. vessels operating in waters threatened by piracy. It is important to recognize that armed security is but one of many protection measures, including the application of non-lethal tactics. There are numerous examples of these measures succeeding in thwarting pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa region.

I look forward to reading this new Maritime Security Directive. I do wonder though, is this a bad time to ask the question... where is the USCGC Boutwell (WHEC 719)?

Training someone in Yemen or Kenya how to police their sea lanes I hope.