Really Spraying Something

Necessity is the mother of invention as they say, and in an effort to combat piracy, Mace Personal Defense, Inc. has developed “The Shipboard Defense System” (“SDS”), a defensive on-board system with a very interesting way of repelling pirates.

The Shipboard Defense System is designed with 300 gallon pressurized tanks that include loop piping installed around a vessel allowing for 100 feet of defensive zones. When activated, the system disperses a “RAINSTORM” of Mace® pepper spray that is formulated with 10% non-flammable OC pepper effective even against those with decreased sensitivity to pain. This specific Mace® formulation is also environmentally friendly as it is non-ozone depleting.

Don West, President of Shipboard Defense Systems stated, “The Shipboard Defense System could potentially help the maritime industry save billions of dollars that are paid in ransom, insurance and other overhead costs associated with piracy each year.” A report compiled by US-based think-tank One Earth Future states “maritime piracy is costing the international economy between $7 to $12 billion per year.”

Dennis Raefield, Mace’s CEO and President added, “The Mace-SDS solution is unique because it allows ships’ personnel to repel boarders, and avoids the issue of arming vessels with guns. In addition, the SDS system is mounted on the perimeter of the ship and does not affect sea worthiness or require bulkhead penetrations. At Mace, we see significant potential if SDS becomes widely adopted. It offers a real solution to an escalating problem.”