How about convoys with naval escorts?

Paul Twyman, Cardiff,

While the article makes sense in the business domain, the reality is that Somalian piracy is now political. A UN force of 4-6 frigates with a helicopter each, empowered under Chapter 6, with a couple of companies of marines embarked would within 6 months put the pirates out of business.

James, Ramsey, UK

The countries providing aid to Somalia should impose conditions on the aid.This for starters will get them thinking.

Jack Sparrow, india,

The gutless leaders of this world are amazing. The tax payers pay billions for high tech, expensive Navies that cannot deal with some guys in an outboard open boat with an RPG. Turn the Pirate dens into black smoking holes and you wont have a further problem.

Edward Teach, Charlotte, N.C, USA

You can bet theres corruption too, you can imagine the size of insurance payouts on these vessels and cargoes, no wonder they dont want to arm the crew. I wonder if theres any cargo on the boats!!
It is extraordinary that only 3 crew have died since the peak in activity,theres cash in this for all

Lea, Manchester, UK

Experience of two Atlantic wars proved that a convoy system with an escort is the answer to a threat to individual ships. With modern technology any pirates would be easily detected and intercepted

bob naybour, mold, uk

Why cant we simply began a full naval blockade of somalia?
sink anything coming in or out and starve the the people into submission? No-one in that twisted wreck of a country is "innocent".

Chris, Rochdale, UK

Let the pirates win even once and you will have every ship in the area boarded, make pirating a life costing risk and the numbers will stay down. Compare the cost of a few thousand for dumped weapons and trained guards to that of a lost tanker. Rules of engagement my foot! shoot first, ask later

Mark, Bournemouth, UK

The world is full of wimps. (Socialists - not Communists)

Armed guards would be an appropriate deterrent to stop the rot.

Otherwise - piracy blossoms.

Richard, Stanstead Abbots,

There's nothing new about armed merchentmen.

The East India Company was sometimes as well-armed as the Royal Navy, although often lacking in training and leadership. A fat East Indiaman might have easily out-gunned a Navy sloop of war and was a real threat to pirates.

I like the Q-boat idea!

Geoffrey Langlois, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Well Bill, the problem is that they have hostages and the hijacked ships in the port.

Perhaps installing a "burglar alarm" on the ships that makes them immobile as soon as they are hijacked?

Leonard, Leiden, Holland

Have the Royal Navy lost all memory ?

What about admiral Campbell and the Q ships ?

stefan , Lund, Sweden

Start by leveling the Somali pirate haven of Eyl and the multi-million dollar homes belonging to the pirate chiefs and see if they get the message.

Bill Foonman, Jacksonville, USA