US ships required to have guards

It would be up to the shipowning company to determine whether these teams are to be armed or not.
The US Coast Guard last week introduced a new maritime security directive in the aftermath of the piracy attacks on US-flag vessels Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun off Somalia last month.
The directive requires that US-flag companies to submit their amended vessel security plans to the agency for approval; proposing new measures in place to deter terrorism, piracy and armed robbery against ships.
These plans are to be submitted for review by May 25. The directive contains an annex that lays down “further specific measures required for vessels transiting in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden high risk waters”.
USCG officials said the directive would not be released to the public in its entirety, citing its sensitive nature.
USCG director of prevention policy Rear Admiral James Watson told a maritime security meeting in Fort Lauderdale that it would be up to shipowners sailing in high-risk waters off Somalia to propose to the agency what they intend to do to deter piracy.
The USCG would work with shipowners whose plans are deemed inadequate to repel pirate attacks to try to help enable these operators to continue in business while adhering to the stricter security requirements, he added.
The USCG is not stipulating how many guards should be hired for each ship, nor is there any explicit indication on whether these guards are to be armed, Rear-Adm Watson said.
“We expect to see additional security on US-flagged vessels that transit these waters. It can involve the use of firearms,” he said.