Floating armouries deemed unsafe
Despite operating without incident for some time, report has concerns.
Floating arsenals designed to protect shipping from pirates deemed unsafe
Report warns that vessels full of weapons for hire are ‘a danger to regional stability’
Floating armouries – ships packed to the gunnels with machine-guns, ammunition and other military equipment – are operating in international waters with a “worrying lack” of regulation. A new report has warned that the vessels could pose a threat to “regional peace and stability”.
The armouries were set up to supply private security guards employed to protect shipping from pirates, particularly off the East African coast. The report – commissioned by the Remote Control Project, a body that raises awareness of new military trends – said there was an “urgent need” for an international agreement to set minimum standards for the vessels.
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Source: independent.co.uk
