Piracy Observer Says Somali Incidents Rising as Navies Stretched

gCaptain ^ | August 21, 2026 | Charles Gorrivan

[artichokegrower]

The world’s top maritime piracy observer said incidents off the coast of Somalia are on the rise again after a pair of fresh attacks this week — as two major regional conflicts stretch naval forces in the area thin.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: minnesota

[artichokegrower]

When they get done policing that part of the world maybe the could take care of the Somali pirates in Minnesota

[KingLudd]

Seems to me that the rooftop Koreans could handle the Somali pirates no problem.

[AppyPappy]

All caused by a lack of defensive weapons on ships navigating the area.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The US Congress needs to send Omar and Tslob back to their summer homes in Africa to feed their goats and get those primitive knuckledraggers under control.

[ridesthemiles]

PERFECT ANSWER

[DIRTYSECRET]

Those pirate boats have a mother ship in the area. ID them and take them out.

[BradyLS]

Anti-piracy used to be a big thing for navies.

[ansel12]

I can’t believe in this age of international military cooperation, and global corporations and global laws and agreements, that someone can’t work out an affordable way to share the expense of dealing with ocean piracy when it is concentrated in certain areas.

[PGR88]

I bet Somali gangsters are extremely well-funded, flush with $billions from organized medicaid scams in the USA

[Leaning Right]

> All caused by a lack of defensive weapons on ships navigating the area.<

Right. And I wonder what the deal is. You’d think an insurance company would give a ship reduced rates if the ship can show it can defend itself.

But that’s evidently not the case.

Something deeper is going on here. Why aren’t those merchant ships armed?

[PeterPrinciple]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Outlaws

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are you referring to domestic or international?

[Red6]

Or, they can fix the problem in Somalia by simply allowing them all to come to US as “climate refugees.” (sarc)

[Organic Panic]

“Why aren’t those merchant ships armed?”

I would bet it is some stupid country anti gun “we are gun free zone” law in the ports of call that won’t allow them.

[AppyPappy]

Some countries won’t allow armed ships to dock

[PeterPrinciple]

Why Merchant Ships Aren’t Armed
Merchant ships are generally unarmed today because of a combination of international law, legal liability, operational practicality, and security strategy.

1. International Law and Neutrality
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other maritime conventions, merchant vessels are considered civilian and operate under the principle of innocent passage. Arming them can blur the line between military and civilian vessels, potentially complicating their status in foreign ports and waters
jagran.b-cdn.net
jagran.b-cdn.net
+1
. Many countries also have strict laws on firearms at sea, making it difficult for crews to legally carry weapons
StudyCountry.com
StudyCountry.com
.

2. Legal and Liability Risks
Arming a ship increases the risk of accidental or mistaken use of force. If a crew member shoots an unarmed person—such as a distressed mariner or a fisherman—the shipowner, captain, and crew could face criminal charges, massive lawsuits, and reputational damage
hub.sivo.it.com
hub.sivo.it.com
. Insurance companies are reluctant to cover armed vessels due to these risks, which can make operations prohibitively expensive
jagran.b-cdn.net
jagran.b-cdn.net
.

3. Operational and Practical Challenges
Merchant ships are designed for cargo transport, not combat. Adding weapons requires specialized training, secure storage, maintenance, and weight management, all of which can disrupt normal operations
ngcruise.com
ngcruise.com
+1
. Crews are typically trained in navigation and cargo handling, not in firearms or tactical defense, so arming a ship would demand significant retraining and certification
ngcruise.com
ngcruise.com
.

4. Escalation of Force
Armed resistance can provoke a more aggressive response from attackers, increasing the danger to crew and cargo
hub.sivo.it.com
hub.sivo.it.com
. The goal of maritime security is often to avoid direct conflict rather than engage in it, so non-lethal measures like speed, maneuvering, and armed guards are preferred
StudyCountry.com
StudyCountry.com
+1
.

5. Historical Context
In the past, especially in the 18th–20th centuries, many merchant ships were armed against piracy and privateers
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
. However, as international law evolved and piracy declined, the need for onboard weapons diminished. Today, protection is handled by naval escorts, port security, and armed guards deployed by shipowners in high-risk areas
StudyCountry.com
StudyCountry.com
.

In summary: Merchant ships remain unarmed because arming them is legally complex, carries high liability risks, is operationally disruptive, and can escalate threats rather than prevent them. Security is instead achieved through international cooperation, non-lethal measures, and targeted armed protection in specific high-risk scenarios.

[Apparatchik]

Is it just part of the Somali national character to be a thieving scumbag?

[Red6]

Yes,

They should simply have a standing force of mercenaries that board the ship shortly before entering the danger area, and debark after leaving the area, to jump on the next vessel.

That way the ship and its crew doesn't need to worry about training, equipment, the laws of various nations when entering port with weapons on board, if something does happen and someone gets injured or killed. The company providing the mercenaries handles all of those details.

The ship still has its defensive systems, but also now has 6 - 12 mercs armed to their teeth on board, making boarding it a hazardous endeavor.

I'm frankly surprised someone like Constellis isn't capitalizing on this: https://constellis.com/

This seems like a legit security need and business opportunity.

[JohnBovenmyer]

>send Omar and Tslob back…

Call it a “Section 8” discharge. From that section of Article One, “Congress shall have power to: … define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations.” Just ‘define’ them as part of the piracy and set their punishment. Not a stretch for those who think they have the power to redefine Cpl. Klinger as a woman. At least this definition power would be enumerated.

[Leaning Right]

Very informative post. Thanks.

So how’s about this? Don’t arm merchant ships. But commission few Q-ships. These would be regular Navy vessels crewed by trained sailors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-ship

[AppyPappy]

The problem is you need long range weaponry like a cannon. You could put a 30mm cannon on a container that can be loaded and off-loaded by helo. It could be “manned” from anywhere by remote control like a drone.