Navy is given new power to destroy pirate vessels
The Royal Navy has been given a new role to actively hunt pirate vessels, MPs have been told.
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said the navy had moved to a more 'proactive posture' in tackling the threat.
Royal Navy sources said commanding officers had been given the power to destroy equipment used by pirates – including sinking their vessels.
A recent escalation in piracy in the lawless waters off the coast of Somalia has involved a series of high-profile raids, including the seizure of the MV Faina carrying a cargo of tanks and weapons.
A US-led international fleet Combined Task Force 150, including the British frigate HMS Northumberland, is already patrolling the Gulf of Aden.
In a Commons written answer, Mr Ainsworth told shadow foreign secretary William Hague yesterday: 'The government's stance on piracy has recently been reviewed.
'This has resulted in a move to a more proactive posture whereby Royal Navy units in the region will actively seek out pirates, and we have issued them with more robust guidance to deal with any pirates encountered.'
Previously, commanding officers could only engage pirates if they caught them in the act and were not allowed to destroy their weapons or equipment.
A navy source said: 'The UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea does not permit them to destroy equipment.
'What the UK guidance will do is allow commanding officers to do that.'
A Nato fleet, including attached Royal Navy units, is deploying to the area and part of its mission will be to protect World Food Programme shipping heading to Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
