Weapons are prohibited on merchant vessels, end of story.

Start killing Pirates just because they ARE Pirates and I would fear for the 200 hostages currently held by same Pirates.

These attacks and hi jackings are taking place in a million square miles of ocean through which pass over 90,000 vessels a year. Last year about a hundred were attacked, which makes it a miniscule problem in terms of insurance and in no way jutifies a convoy system.

I stated that the ships should be manned by a couple of troops with their weapons of choice. That is not prohibited.

Size of the patch doesn’t make it less of a crime, it does make a difference to the insurance.
They need to be shown that this cannot be allowed, they need blasting out of the water. It would only take a few examples to make them realise. Just like the USM corp in Sierra Leone, a head shot to the leader of the baddies. No more problems.