A private escort vessel sets sail for the Gulf of Aden
(BRUSSELS2) A ship from a private security company (Schütz & Swart) is due to set sail tomorrow (April 28), leaving Vlaardingen (near Rotterdam) towards the Gulf of Aden. Objective: to protect merchant ships against the pirates who are rampant in this region. THE Sigi - a former Swedish Navy patrol boat entered into service in 1976 and decommissioned in 1996 - was purchased by S&S in October 2010. Able to reach a speed of 20 knots, it has a relatively limited autonomy - without refueling - of 2000 miles sailors. In addition to the crew, he has a team of 6 private guards, armed with machine guns, he intends to defend his clients against piracy and serve as an escort during the most dangerous journeys in the Gulf of Aden and, above all , beyond the protected rail. It will cost those concerned several thousand euros a day. Which is not very expensive compared to the risk of piracy. The company intends to fill the space left emptied by the Dutch State, which is still dithering on the establishment of VPDs on board merchant ships. But - take a good look at the photo - the Sigi does not fly the Dutch flag. It is not an error. Local law prohibits such services. It therefore flies the British flag, which is more welcoming. However, this practice does not resolve the question of the liability of private teams who, on the high seas, have no specific prerogative and could even be held liable for any act that causes damage.
