Centre may allow ships to carry arms

Alarmed by the rising number of attacks on merchant vessels and the abduction of the vessel staff, the Centre is now planning to allow Indian merchant ships to carry light arms for their protection. Retired navy and coast guard officials could also be allowed to accompany the ships.

Commodore MVS Kumar, principal director of ex-servicemen affairs of integrated headquarters, ministry of defence (navy), said on Sunday that the Union government is considering such initiatives for the safety of Indian merchant ships and their staff.

Kumar was speaking with DNA on the sidelines of a programme in Pune. “The issue is being discussed by the authorities concerned. Once approved, the Union ministry of shipping will come out with a notification,” he said.

Commodore Kumar said that maritime security guards are needed to tackle the menace of sea piracy.

“They are available in the form of retired sailors of the coast guard and the navy,” he said.

The owners of merchant ships have been asking the Union government to allow them to carry light firearms. At present, Indian merchant ships are not allowed to carry arms on ships.

“Foreign merchant ships are allowed to carry arms, but Indian ships are not. As a result, Indian merchant ships are more vulnerable,” he said.

On the recent attacks by Somali pirates on Indian merchant ships, Kumar said: “The Indian Navy is capable of repulsing such attacks. But the problem is that the pirates are clever. They keep changing their locations after abducting the staff. As a result, it becomes difficult to trace them. Moreover, while they ask for the ransom money to be deposited in Swiss bank accounts,” he said.