Holland Fights Armed Guards Instead of Pirates

14.11.2011 Dutch minister of justice Ivo Opstelten said on Nov 10 that hired guard on board Dutch-flagged ships was the breach of law, and owners of such ships could face trial.

Netherlands offers its commercial ships to take Dutch servicemen on board, but largest shipowners like Jumbo Shipping and Vroon Shipping say they cannot work with the military which needs to arrange at least 6 weeks prior to shipping, that conflicts with economy. Shipowners said they would hire guards, but the minister replied the companies in that case would be considered lawbreakers.

Comment

Armed civilian guard on board merchant vessels has numerous opponents like the military, some countries, UN, IMO, and the Round Table. The permit for civilian guard issued by a number of states under pressure of reality, is unlikely a period to the problem. Rather. It's just an ellipsis, the funniest things will come soon. I shouldn't be surprised if in foreseeable future the military would check commercial vessels for licensed guards on board meeting all imaginable requirements and laws. Somali piracy is waning, this business would be no more profitable in the next year if things go on like now. After a year of Kenya's military advances northward along Somali coast, pirates may disappear for a while at all. However, national and international bureaucracy and the military seem to have switched attention from piracy and now they are countering armed guards.