What Takes the Top Spot as the Non-Lethal Weapon against Pirates?

The security crisis in the Red Sea is escalating due to the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction ‘Hamas.’ While Yemen’s Houthi rebels are attacking civilian ships, Somali pirates are also resurfacing. In relation to this, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has introduced ‘advanced non-lethal weapons’ specifically designed to protect civilian ships navigating the Red Sea.

Scaring off Pirates with ‘Sound Cannons’

The first is the ‘LRAD’ sound weapon developed by the American company Genasys. The LRAD was developed in the early 2000s when the threat of Somali pirate kidnappings dramatically increased.

The LRAD can fire high-frequency sound up to a distance of about 1,640 feet. People exposed to LRAD’s ‘sound cannon’ experience confusion and discomfort. According to the BBC, the most recently developed model reportedly tracks targets while radiating sound.

However, the pirate repulsion effect of the LRAD has not been fully proven. In 2005, there were reports of pirates being driven away by the LRAD, but a 2008 report claimed that ship hijackings could not be prevented even with the LRAD system.

From Water Cannons to Chemical Spray

The most commonly used defense method for civilian ships today is the water cannon. It fires a powerful stream of water to deter pirates on boats. Water cannons are installed on several ships navigating the Red Sea, as well as on naval ships conducting pirate eradication operations.

An idea has also been tested to spray a chemical substance that causes ‘discomfort’ to people using water cannons and hoses. According to the BBC, the smell of this chemical substance causes pain similar to being sprayed with pepper spray. However, it is said that this substance has never been installed on actual ships.

Experts explain that there are clear limitations to water cannons. Sean Robertson of EOS Risk Group, a security management company, told the BBC that “water cannons do not work against opponents with a firm intent to attack,” adding, “You can’t stop people armed with rocket launchers and AK-47 rifles with water.”

An Eye for an Eye… Boom in Armed Security Business

So, what is the most reliable protection measure in the current situation? The most useful tool for repelling armed rebels or pirates has been reported to be ‘armed guards.’

Chris Long, the Information Officer of maritime security company Neptune P2P Group, told the BBC, “Pirates just want money, they don’t want to die,” adding, “If (the pirate) gets shot, they will run away.”

Today, many security companies provide civilian ships with armed security guards. In the past 1-2 years, the demand for these companies has decreased as the security of international waters has stabilized, but recently it is showing signs of a boom again. Ship owners typically pay a team of three security guards 60,000 pounds (approximately $82,800).

However, there are limits to security companies. They cannot deter armed groups of a country like the Houthi rebels. In response to this, Long told the media, “If the Houthi rebels try to board the ship, the guards will have to lay down their weapons and let (the rebels) in,” adding, “We cannot be involved in any attack by a state actor.”

Ultimately, in situations where state-scale armed organizations, not ordinary pirates, pose a threat, cooperation among national navies is most important. This is why multinational naval fleets, including the United States and the United Kingdom, are conducting ship protection operations in the Red Sea.

By. Ju Hyung Lim