Armed guard discusses dangers

Risk and danger always present.

Maritime marshal reveals dangers posed by heavily armed pirates

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

He has been a maritime marshal, or what is also known as a ship-based armed guard, for the last four years.

But Joshua (not his real name) still gets the jitters whenever he is about to put to sea. That is because each time the ship he is guarding ventures into pirate-infested areas such as the waters off Somalia, his life could be at risk.

More so now, with pirate attacks on the increase.

According to the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau, pirates have so far this year hijacked 13 vessels in Asian waters by targeting small tankers carrying oil and gas products. The corresponding figure for last year was only three.

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Source: news.asiaone.com