Guards to be required on U.S. Flag vessels

I have been saying for some time the least that should be done to protect against pirates is to have guards, or watchmen.

This is what I said on May 5th, 2009

The international shipping community is content to pay ransoms for ships which are captured, because this is cheaper than arming their ships, and probably even cheaper than even doing the basic things against pirates, such as 24 hour watchmen.

Today the U.S. Coast Guard says U.S. Flag vessel going around the Horn of Africa, which is Somalia, must have guards onboard

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard will require U.S.-flagged ships sailing around the Horn of Africa to post guards and ship owners to submit anti-piracy security plans for approval, a Coast Guard official said on Tuesday.

But, the guards don't have to be armed.

Well, I guess this is something, although one would think the shipping companies would have been doing this on their own.

Furthermore, this only applies to U.S. Flag vessels, of which there are few.