U.S. captain says arming crews could help fight pirates,Belgian military to protect ships off Somalia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Richard Phillips, the U.S. ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates, told Congress on Thursday he thought arming some members of commercial ship crews could help beat back pirate attacks. But shipping executive John Clancey opposed crews getting into an arms race with pirates on the high seas. Clancey is chairman of Maersk Inc., parent company of Maersk Line Ltd, whose ship -- Phillips' Maersk Alabama -- was attacked on April 8. U.S. lawmakers tried not to play up the differences between Phillips and Clancey during a Senate hearing called to probe the growing number of attacks off the coast of Somalia. But some made it clear they preferred Phillips' view. "The idea that there wouldn't be protection on board ... just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense," said Democratic Senator Jim Webb, a former secretary of the U.S. Navy and advocate of gun ownership. Commandos shot and killed three gunmen on April 12 to end the hostage ordeal for Phillips, who was being held on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean. A fourth suspected pirate was arrested and brought to the United States for trial. Attacks on ships in the region have increased despite the presence of foreign warships. Phillips told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that ideally, the U.S. government would provide protection to U.S.-flag vessels, but he knew it might not have the resources to do so. Arming some members of the crew was not the best or whole solution but could be part of a "comprehensive approach" to combating piracy, he said. "It would be my personal preference that only the four most senior-ranking officers aboard the vessel have access to effective weaponry and that these individuals receive training on a regular basis," he said. Clancey stressed an international solution was needed to the problem of piracy. He said the International Maritime Organization strongly recommended against arming crews...more..http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53T8UY20090430?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
Belgian military to protect ships off Somalia
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