LLOYDS LIST: PIRACY: GURKHAS ON OFFER AS SHIP PROTECTION
85% match; Lloyds List ; 29-Jan-2000 12:00:00 am ; 326 words

A UK-based firm is offering the services of a private force of ex- British Army Gurkhas to protect ships as they transit piracy-threatened waters.

Anglo Marine Overseas Services says that, in the light of rising concern with regard to piracy it has assembled over 300 ex-British Army Gurkhas for the task.

Some ship operators in Australia have already received a letter from the company, which is based in central London and claims to have offices in Geneva, New York and Athens.

Formed into groups of four, six or eight men, the primary mission of these embarkation teams is to deter piracy and criminal acts at sea.

The letter does not state if the Gurkhas will be armed, but comments that a secondary mission is to 'manage the event' should the deterrent fail against a determined boarding party suggest they most likely will be.

The ex-soldiers have an average 16 years' British military service.

Gurkhas have a reputation as lethal soldiers and local industry sources suggest that in time the mere knowledge that some ships may be employing these protective measures may work to deter some pirates.

It is understood that pirates deliberately avoid Russian and US flag ships as it is rumoured that many of these ships carry small arms arsenals for protection.

Neither of these shipping nations has said anything publicly to give the contrary impression.

Reported piracy incidents surged 40% last year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

The bureau documented a total of 285 attacks in 1999 on ships at sea, at anchor or in port. This compared with 202 the previous year.

The waters around Indonesia, Singapore and Somalia pose the greatest threat according to the bureau.

According to its letter, Anglo Marine also provides alcohol and drug testing programmes on board ships.

Industry sources suggest there may be some concern about the company's other activities.

Anglo Marine says it has an exclusive agreement with US-based Employee Information Services to provide shipping companies with information on employees - especially in the areas of substance abuse, background screening and occupational health information services.