Editing Piracy (section)

===Self-defense===
The fourth volume of the handbook: ''Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Arabian Sea Area'' (known as BMP4)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocimf.org/publications/|title=Publications|website=www.ocimf.org|access-date=August 28, 2022|archive-date=August 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828021920/https://www.ocimf.org/publications/|url-status=live}}</ref> is the current authoritative guide for merchant ships on self-defense against pirates. The guide is issued and updated by ''Oil Companies International Marine Forum'' (OCIMF), a consortium of interested international shipping and trading organizations including the EU, NATO and the International Maritime Bureau.<ref name="bmp3">{{cite book|url=http://www.mschoa.org/docs/public-documents/bmp4-low-res_sept_5_2011.pdf|title=Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy|publisher=Witherby Seamanship International, London|access-date=September 10, 2016|date=2011|author=Consortium of International Organizations|isbn=978-1-85609-505-1|location=Livingston|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909191819/http://www.mschoa.org/docs/public-documents/bmp4-low-res_sept_5_2011.pdf|archive-date=September 9, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is distributed primarily by the [[Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa]] (MSCHOA), the planning and coordination authority for EU naval forces (EUNAVFOR).<ref name="bmp3"/>

The BMP4 encourages vessels to register their voyages through the region with MSCHOA, as this registration is a key component of the operation of the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC, the navy-patrolled route through the Gulf of Aden). The BMP4 contains a chapter entitled "Self-Protective Measures" which lays out a list of steps a merchant vessel can take to make itself less of a target to pirates, and make it better able to repel an attack if one occurs. This list includes rigging the deck of the ship with [[razor wire]], rigging fire-hoses to spray sea-water over the side of the ship to hinder boardings, having a distinctive pirate alarm, hardening the bridge against gunfire and creating a "[[safe room|citadel]]" where the crew can retreat if pirates get on board.<ref name="bmp3"/> Other unofficial self-defense measures that can be found on merchant vessels include the setting up of mannequins posing as armed guards or firing flares at the pirates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/01/12/verjee.pirate.proof.pre.cnn |title=2011: Pirate-proof ships? |date=22 February 2011 |publisher=CNN |access-date=March 27, 2011 |archive-date=August 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831124519/http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/01/12/verjee.pirate.proof.pre.cnn |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Though it varies by country, generally peacetime law in the 20th and 21st centuries has not allowed merchant vessels to carry weapons. As a response to the rise in modern piracy, however, the U.S. government changed its rules so that it is now possible for [[flag state|U.S.-flagged vessels]] to embark a team of armed private security guards. The [[US Coastguard]] leaves it to ship owners' discretion to determine if those guards will be armed.<ref name="John W. Miller">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126265833983415885|title=Loaded: Freighters Ready to Shoot Across Pirate Bow|author=John W. Miller|date=January 6, 2010|work=WSJ|access-date=August 8, 2017|archive-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710034856/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126265833983415885|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://maritimeaccident.org/2009/11/maersk-alabama-followed-best-practice/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709012108/http://maritimeaccident.org/2009/11/20/maersk-alabama-followed-best-practice/|url-status=dead |title=Maersk Alabama "Followed Best Practice" |archive-date=July 9, 2012|website=Maritime Accident Casebook }}</ref> The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in 2011 changed its stance on private armed guards, accepting that operators must be able to defend their ships against pirate attacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFLDE71E1F520110215 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220020757/http://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFLDE71E1F520110215 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2011 |title=Shippers back private armed guards to beat pirates |publisher=Reuters Africa |date=February 15, 2011 |first1=Henning |last1=Gloystein |editor-first1=James |editor-last1=Jukwey |access-date= June 8, 2016}}</ref>

This has given birth to a new breed of [[private security companies]] that provide training for crew members and operate [[Floating armoury|floating armouries]] for protection of crew and cargo. This has proved effective in countering pirate attacks.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/11/29/spain.pirate.attack/ |title=Spanish fishing boat repels pirate attack |publisher=CNN |date=November 29, 2009 |access-date=March 27, 2011 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628202149/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/11/29/spain.pirate.attack/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8584604.stm |title='Pirate' dies as ship's guards repel attack off Somalia |work=BBC News |date=March 24, 2010 |access-date=March 27, 2011}}</ref> The use of floating armouries in international waters allows ships to carry weapons in international waters, without being in possession of arms within coastal waters where they would be illegal. [[Seychelles]] has become a central location for international anti-piracy operations, hosting the Anti-Piracy Operation Center for the Indian Ocean. In 2008, VSOS became the first authorized armed maritime security company to operate in the Indian Ocean region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vsos.sc/about-vsos/|title=VSOS – Securing Indian Ocean Shipping, Yachts & Offshore Operations|work=vsos.sc|access-date=December 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208124219/http://vsos.sc/about-vsos/|archive-date=December 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

With safety trials complete in the late 2000s, [[laser dazzler]]s have been developed for defensive purposes on super-yachts.<ref name="mental_dazer">{{cite web|url=http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/75433|title=How Lasers Can Protect You From Pirates|last=DiSalvo|first=David|date=December 6, 2010|publisher=mental floss|access-date=September 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119171513/http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/75433|archive-date=January 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> They can be effective up to {{convert|4|km}} with the effects going from mild disorientation to [[flash blindness]] at closer range.<ref>{{cite web|title=SeaLase Offers Shipping Companies Effective Counter to Pirates|url=http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/sealase-offers-shipping-companies-effective-counter-to-pirates_1164|publisher=Handy Shipping Guide|access-date=January 19, 2010|archive-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123185411/http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/sealase-offers-shipping-companies-effective-counter-to-pirates_1164|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2012, [[San Marco Regiment|Italian Marines]] based on the tanker ''[[Enrica Lexie]]'' [[2012 Italian shooting in the Arabian sea|allegedly fired on an Indian fishing trawler]] off [[Kerala]], killing two of her eleven crew. The Marines allegedly mistook the fishing vessel as a pirate vessel. The incident sparked a diplomatic row between India and Italy. ''Enrica Lexie'' was ordered into [[Kochi]] where her crew were questioned by [[Indian Police Service|officers of the Indian Police]].<ref name=BBC17071474>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17071474 |title=India police open murder case against Italian ship crew |work=BBC News |access-date=February 21, 2012 |date=February 17, 2012 |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219223304/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17071474 |url-status=live }}</ref> The fact is still ''sub juris'' and its legal eventual outcome could influence future deployment of VPDs, since states will be either encouraged or discouraged to provide them depending on whether [[Immunity from prosecution (international law)#Functional immunity|functional immunity]] is ultimately granted or denied to the Italians.<ref name=R.L.Phillips>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Roger L.|title=The Enrica Lexie Incident – Private Security Counterpoint|url=http://piracy-law.com/2012/03/09/the-enrica-lexie-incident-private-security-counterpoint/|access-date=January 3, 2013|newspaper=piracy Law|date=March 9, 2012|archive-date=May 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514064422/http://piracy-law.com/2012/03/09/the-enrica-lexie-incident-private-security-counterpoint/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Another similar incident has been reported to have happened in the [[Red Sea]] between the coasts of Somalia and Yemen, involving the death of a Yemeni fisherman allegedly at the hands of a Russian Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on board a Norwegian-flagged vessel.<ref name=piracy-law>{{cite web|last=Phillips|first=Roger L.|title=Private Security Liability under the Alien Tort Statute|url=http://piracy-law.com/2012/11/25/private-security-liability-under-the-alien-tort-statute/|publisher=piracy-law.com|access-date=December 22, 2012|date=November 25, 2012|archive-date=December 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204235742/http://piracy-law.com/2012/11/25/private-security-liability-under-the-alien-tort-statute/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Russian-Yemeni incident">{{cite news|last=Alan|first=Katz|title=Fighting Piracy Goes Awry With Killings of Fishermen|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-16/fighting-piracy-goes-awry-with-killings-of-fishermen.html|access-date=December 22, 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=September 17, 2012|archive-date=October 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030195455/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-16/fighting-piracy-goes-awry-with-killings-of-fishermen.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite VPD deployment being controversial because of these incidents, according to the [[Associated Press]],<ref name="AP UN SC">{{cite news|last=Spielmann|first=Peter James|title=UN Security Council debates piracy for first time|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/un-security-council-debates-spread-piracy|access-date=December 9, 2012|newspaper=Associated Press|date=November 19, 2012|archive-date=November 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119180535/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/un-security-council-debates-spread-piracy|url-status=live}}</ref> during a [[United Nations Security Council]] conference about piracy "U.S. Ambassador [[Susan Rice]] told the council that no ship carrying armed guards has been successfully attacked by pirates" and "French Ambassador [[Gerard Araud]] stressed that private guards do not have the deterrent effect that government-posted marine and sailors and naval patrols have in warding off attacks".