While I’ve been blogging about pirates for four years now and have sailed through pirate waters during my time in the Navy, my pirate expertise pales in comparison to the merchant mariners who sail these waters every day.

Below is an email I read last night on one of my email lists. Take it from Captain Bill Doherty, an actual merchant marine captain: this problem won’t be solved easily.

I am an active Merchant Mariner.

Last year I spent the entire year out in those waters on the Maersk Vermont, Maersk Ohio and the President Truman.

It’s very difficult for those who dont have first hand Merchant Marine experience in those waters to get a full appreciation of the situation.

Pirates aren’t new, just their tactics and equipment are. They have better boats, better guns and much more sophisticated electronic guidance systems.
Continue reading →