Belgium will arm Belgian Flag vessels in Gulf of Aden

but not if you are not flying the Belgian flag, and, it will cost you...

From Lloyd's List

BELGIUM refused a request to place armed officers on board a Belgian-owned ship sailing through the Gulf of Aden because the vessel was sailing under a foreign flag, it was revealed today.

Belgium is offering owners flying the Belgian flag an eight-strong team of soldiers, flown in from bases in Dubai, Djibouti and Mombasa, at a cost of €115,000 ($161,375) per eight-day voyage. The services would be used for the first time “shortly”, Mr Ramacker said.

click here for complete article

How to repel pirates

The BBC has a more in depth article on the pirate attack of the MSC Cruise Line vessel Melody.

I particularly enjoyed the methods used to fend off the pirates

1) Shoot into the air
2) Spray water on the pirates
3) Throw deck chairs at the pirates

I'm not making this up.

click here for the complete article