Editing Piracy (section)

===Self protection measures===
[[File:Armed guard escort on a merchant ship.jpg|thumb|A private guard escort on a merchant ship providing security services against [[Piracy in Somalia|piracy in the Indian Ocean]]]]
[[File:LRAD.JPG|thumb|right|An LRAD [[sound cannon]] mounted on {{RMS|Queen Mary 2}}]]
The best protection against pirates is to avoid encountering them. This can be accomplished by using tools such as [[radar]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marinebuzz.com/2009/09/09/bae-systems-reveal-anti-sea-piracy-systems/|title=Anti-piracy radar|access-date=October 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812191134/http://www.marinebuzz.com/2009/09/09/bae-systems-reveal-anti-sea-piracy-systems/}}</ref> or by using specialised systems that use shorter wavelengths, as small boats are not always picked up by radar. An example of a specialised system is WatchStander.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22229714.700-pirates-incoming-ship-radar-keeps-watch-and-hits-back.html#.VHJslWelhki |title=Pirates incoming! Ship radar keeps watch and hits back |work=New Scientist |last=Hodson |first=Hal |date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522143432/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22229714.700-pirates-incoming-ship-radar-keeps-watch-and-hits-back.html#.VHJslWelhki |url-status=live }}</ref>

While the non-wartime 20th century tradition has been for merchant vessels not to be armed, the U.S. Government has recently changed the rules so that it is now "best practice" for vessels to embark a team of armed private security guards.<ref name="John W. Miller"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://maritimeaccident.org/2009/11/20/maersk-alabama-followed-best-practice/ |title="Maersk Alabama "Followed Best Practice"", by Bob Couttie, November 20, 2009, Maritime Accident Casebook |access-date=October 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709012108/http://maritimeaccident.org/2009/11/20/maersk-alabama-followed-best-practice |archive-date=July 9, 2012 }}</ref> The guards are usually supplied from ships intended specifically for training and supplying such armed personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/vice/episodes/04/44-afghan-womens-rights-and-floating-armories/index.html|title=VICE on HBO, Ep. 408: Afghan Women's Rights and Floating Armories – VICE on HBO|website=HBO|url-status=dead|access-date=August 17, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817183518/http://www.hbo.com/vice/episodes/04/44-afghan-womens-rights-and-floating-armories/index.html}}</ref> The crew can be given weapons training,<ref>{{YouTube|FlPsHBUZ4_E|Weapons training for crew }}</ref> and warning shots can be fired legally in international waters.

Other measures vessels can take to protect themselves against piracy are air-pressurised boat stopping systems which can fire a variety of vessel-disabling projectiles,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37257236|title=Do you have an AK-47 and can you swim?|first=Padraig|last=Belton|date=September 9, 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=June 23, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308193547/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37257236|url-status=live}}</ref>  implementing a high freewall<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/05/piracy.hearing/index.html |title=Shipping company head wants to arm vessels against pirates |work=CNN |date=May 5, 2009 |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024022926/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/05/piracy.hearing/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and vessel boarding protection systems (e.g., hot water wall, electricity-charged water wall, automated fire monitor, slippery foam).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secure-marine.com/Waters/BROCHURE_Secure-Waters.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5o95MMMRO?url=http://www.secure-marine.com/Waters/BROCHURE_Secure-Waters.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2010|title=Secure-Waters |website=secure-marine.com|access-date=January 7, 2010}}</ref> Ships can also attempt to protect themselves using their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18889594 |title=Ahoy! Your ship is being tracked from orbit |work=BBC News |last=Amos |first=Jonathon |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-date=June 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616091547/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18889594 |url-status=live }}</ref> Every ship over 300 tons carries a transponder supplying both information about the ship itself and its movements. Any unexpected change in this information can attract attention.

Previously this data could only be picked up if there was a nearby ship, rendering single ships vulnerable. Special satellites have been launched recently that are now able to detect and retransmit this data. Large ships cannot therefore be hijacked without being detected. This can act as a deterrent to attempts to either hijack the entire ship, or steal large portions of cargo with another ship, since an escort can be sent more quickly.