BCB INTERNATIONAL LTD.2011-10-31 13:38:08
"Device bridges piracy deterrence gap" claim Marine safety experts
Marine safety experts are encouraging UK shipping companies to include non-lethal pressurised air launchers to bridge the deterrence gap between early warning measures and using weapons in the fight against sea piracy.
Cardiff-based survival experts, BCB International Ltd, have been a prime contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence and the Marine Industry for over 50 years. Last week they successfully demonstrated their innovative counter-piracy pressurised air launchers at the North American Technology Demonstration (NATD) in Ottawa, Canada, which was sponsored by NATO, and jointly hosted by the United States Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapon Program and the Canadian Department of National Defence to showcase Non-Lethal Capabilities.
Jonathan Delf, BCB International's Marine Officer said: "We welcome the Prime Minister's latest announcement which shows that his Government is committed to tackling the growing problem of piracy which has dogged UK ships for several years.
"Whilst having armed personnel onboard commercial ships would act as a powerful visible deterrent to pirates, it is a high risk venture which could result in costly unintended consequences. Indeed, using more aggressive countermeasures like weapons could escalate the situation unnecessarily and might result in a higher number of injured crew members, as well as endanger the valuable ship and/or its cargo.
"Moreover there are legal issues surrounding the carriage of weapons including when docking in different ports around the world. Many ship masters will be understandably concerned and wary about using lethal force. To help shipping companies successfully bridge the deterrence gap between early warning measures like Long Range Acoustic Devices and firing bullets, we have developed our pressurised air launchers. Because they can fire a variety of projectiles at different pressures, our air launchers provide a layered deterrence system whose force can be escalated in proportion to the threat. Our systems are the ultimate deterrence escalators."
Marine safety experts are encouraging UK shipping companies to include non-lethal pressurised air launchers to bridge the deterrence gap between early warning measures and using weapons in the fight against sea piracy.
Cardiff-based survival experts, BCB International Ltd, have been a prime contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence and the Marine Industry for over 50 years. Last week they successfully demonstrated their innovative counter-piracy pressurised air launchers at the North American Technology Demonstration (NATD) in Ottawa, Canada, which was sponsored by NATO, and jointly hosted by the United States Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapon Program and the Canadian Department of National Defence to showcase Non-Lethal Capabilities.
Jonathan Delf, BCB International's Marine Officer said: "We welcome the Prime Minister's latest announcement which shows that his Government is committed to tackling the growing problem of piracy which has dogged UK ships for several years.
"Whilst having armed personnel onboard commercial ships would act as a powerful visible deterrent to pirates, it is a high risk venture which could result in costly unintended consequences. Indeed, using more aggressive countermeasures like weapons could escalate the situation unnecessarily and might result in a higher number of injured crew members, as well as endanger the valuable ship and/or its cargo.
"Moreover there are legal issues surrounding the carriage of weapons including when docking in different ports around the world. Many ship masters will be understandably concerned and wary about using lethal force. To help shipping companies successfully bridge the deterrence gap between early warning measures like Long Range Acoustic Devices and firing bullets, we have developed our pressurised air launchers. Because they can fire a variety of projectiles at different pressures, our air launchers provide a layered deterrence system whose force can be escalated in proportion to the threat. Our systems are the ultimate deterrence escalators."
For more information contact:
Clydesmuir Road
Cardiff
CF24 2QS
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 2920 433700
Fax: +44 2920 433 701
