It is not as easy as arming the crew with bazookas, RPGs and assault rifles. You start firing at an inbound Somali pirate ship and they will retaliate by firing back at you. Who is in the more favourable position? You and your crew on a vessel carrying 320 million litres of petroleum or the pirates?

Tom, Suez, Egypt

JimmyMac, the pirates ransom captured crewmen. Why should a 3d world merchant navy crewman risk his life to protect the owners' property?

Jack Cerf, Chatham, NJ

Oh come on we have the might of the western naval powers being made to look like incompetent buffoons. These people are criminals every time we pay a ransom we send a clear message "Do this again" lets be proactive and not reactive. get the African nations to install a viable governmental system

Chris, merthyr Tydfil , UK

Let the Red Sea countries deal they have the money and resourses and they won't be bothered by the Human rights act the pirates will soon get the message when they lose there hands for the theft.

Martin, Spaldinglincs,

JimmyMac, could not agree more.
Arm the ships with bazookers or rockets with some military guys manning them or other simple ideas. It must be April fools day its not difficult with a cargo of $100 million.

Logan, London, UK

The West is a joke. A band of Somali hooligans with AK-47's is calling the shots concerning world trade. What's next? Maybe a NATO warship will be hijacked. I'm sure the nowhere men in Brussels would have surrender documents, cash and sincere apologies ready for conveyance.

John, Detroit, USA

Time to send in the Israelis.

Gil, Tel aviv, Israel

I'd sympathise with the pirates as Somalia's had no goverment for 17 years if a) I thought they were doing it in order to spread money to impoverished Somalis and b) if they weren't going to spend it on drugs. Part of the reason they're so bold is because they're stoned on khat(sim. to coke/opiates)

Cat, London,

Its against International maritime Law and National Laws to arm Merchant ships. Full Stop.
Unless the law is changed, the Master of the Ship would be prosecuted for carrying weapons.

Stuart Frize, 2/Officer MN, Glasgow, Scotland

It's like a James Bond storyline... Go on Daniel, sort them out.

James, London, UK

The U N security council has unanimously approved resolutions calling on nations to send naval ships and military aircraft to the region. Piracy in this area of the world has been going on for ages, the problem would be over pretty quick if the pirates hijacked an American ship.

V Crawford, braunton, uk

human rights anyone?

Hambo, london, town

If you were a crewman on one of these ships would you put you life on the line to save the cargo of Saudi princes? Not for minimum wage.

Micheal McNichulas, London, UK

Ships are just going to have to begin employing proper security. There'll be a nice boom in the security business out of this one. Any ex SBS servicemen after a packet have a very good business opportunity.

Tom H, Bath,

why cant they be controlled, blockade the ports, let out fishermen, let in aid boats. Why is it so difficult.

James, Southampton/Auckland, England/New Zealand

That's what happens when countries who can't control its own territory, let alone its territorial waters, become independent.

Rui Duarte, Lisbon, Portugal

Am I missing something or what?
Why can't these pirates be blown clean from the water as they approach the ship? Security guards on deck with night vision goggles must cost all of what, £10/hour? Arm the ships and blow the pirates to eternity. They'll soon get the message.

JimmyMac, London, UK