LRAD and other Ship Security Measures

**Jetryder223** · April 27th, 2012, 12:32 PM

Academy class topic here.

Blue water security has historically relied on fire hoses, limited small arms and more recently LRAD. There was an incident in 2005 where a cruise ship evaded pirates off Africa using evasive action and LRAD but the role LRAD played was questionable.

I know police and military have used LRAD for crowd control but is there a clear consensus wrt it's effectiveness on board? Would you old salts feel safer with LRAD? I question if the distance from device to target would render it ineffective. Can anyone share experience?

While we are on the topic, is there value to armed security teams on board while transiting dangerous areas?

I think the secret is keeping the pirates off the ship. Once they are on, you're done even if armed.

**New3M** · April 27th, 2012, 03:40 PM

We had 2 onboard a ship I was on. They were only good out to about half a mile, and even then, they weren't incapacitating. More of an annoyance really.

**New3M** · April 27th, 2012, 03:43 PM

And yes there is value to a security team onboard, but it depends on they are. We had an active duty US Navy group who had rules of engagement that they followed and kept a vigilant watch and weren't trigger happy. They were also armed to the teeth and any idiot approaching a ship with a .50 cal firing deserves to be blown to bits. I don't know how the private firms are.

**Kennebec Captain** · April 27th, 2012, 06:58 PM

This is a report from 16 JAN:

Lookouts onboard the tanker first noticed the pirates approaching their vessel in a skiff at a distance of 3.5 nm. At a distance of 300 meters, the onboard unarmed security team engaged the skiff with the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) while ship’s personnel not on the security team or bridge watch team mustered in the citadel. The skiff fired at the vessel and continued to approach. The security team fired warning flares, which landed close to the skiff. The pirates continued to approach and fire upon the vessel. After the security team fired two more flares close to the skiff, the pirates aborted but followed the vessel for another 15 minutes before heading toward a mothership noted in the vicinity.

LRAD's are too bulky, unwieldy, expensive, the operator is not protected and they have not proven to be effective at deterring attacks. Flares are better for warnings as they are cheap and portable.

So far armed security has been 100% effective. The best are active duty U.S. Navy teams, private teams vary.

K.C.

**Jetryder223** · April 28th, 2012, 06:20 AM

Flares? Really?

If I was a pirate and had a boatload of AK-47's & RPG's at my disposal, I don't think an inaccurate flare would slow me down much. Instead, I'd lay down suppressing fire and lob 1 RPG on the deck. While the crew is scrambling for cover, out come the boarding ladders and game over.

**Kennebec Captain** · April 28th, 2012, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by Jetryder223

Flares? Really?

If I was a pirate and had a boatload of AK-47's & RPG's at my disposal, I don't think an inaccurate flare would slow me down much. Instead, I'd lay down suppressing fire and lob 1 RPG on the deck. While the crew is scrambling for cover, out come the boarding ladders and game over.

The tools used for defense of a ship in HRW (High Risk Waters) can be divided into two categories, lethal and non-lethal. Like it or not, there is a requirement in some cases to warn small craft before the use of deadly force can be authorized. Using light weapons such as AR-15 for warning shots is problematic for a number of reasons. Some limitations are, short range, the shots can not be heard above the noise of the boat''s engine, the spray from the round is not conspicuous during the day and can not be seen at night. Another limitation with using warning shot is that they can be lethal as in the case of the Enrica Lexie.

In some case there is a requirement to warn small craft using non-lethal tools only.

Your question is regarding the effectiveness of the LRAD. My answer is that they have not proven to be an effective deterrent. As far as the use of an LRAD for warning, I think flares are a better tool as they are cheap, light and portable and they can easily seen both day and night.

If the situation calls for the use of deadly force then flares are the wrong choice if other, more powerful tools are available .

If you are working on a school project likely you already have read the U.S Coast Guard's guidance on the use of force for self-defense. If not it is PSA (3-09) and can be found here.

K.C.

**rshrew** · April 28th, 2012, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Kennebec Captain

The tools used for defense of a ship in HRW (High Risk Waters) can be divided into two categories, lethal and non-lethal. Like it or not, there is a requirement in some cases to warn small craft before the use of deadly force can be authorized. Using light weapons such as AR-15 for warning shots is problematic for a number of reasons. Some limitations are, short range, the shots can not be heard above the noise of the boat''s engine, the spray from the round is not conspicuous during the day and can not be seen at night. Another limitation with using warning shot is that they can be lethal as in the case of the Enrica Lexie.

In some case there is a requirement to warn small craft using non-lethal tools only.

Your question is regarding the effectiveness of the LRAD. My answer is that they have not proven to be an effective deterrent. As far as the use of an LRAD for warning, I think flares are a better tool as they are cheap, light and portable and they can easily seen both day and night.

If the situation calls for the use of deadly force then flares are the wrong choice if other, more powerful tools are available .

If you are working on a school project likely you already have read the U.S Coast Guard's guidance on the use of force for self-defense. If not it is PSA (3-09) and can be found here.

K.C.

So rubber bullets in 1 mag, than the real deal in the second?

**Kennebec Captain** · April 28th, 2012, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by rshrew

So rubber bullets in 1 mag, than the real deal in the second?

Once the pirates fire weapons or attempt to board deadly force is used. The bullets are not made of rubber.

K.C.

**Kennebec Captain** · April 29th, 2012, 04:49 AM

From PSA (3-09)

Examples of imminent danger include, but are not limited to, aiming or firing weapons at a U.S. flagged vessel with individuals embarked, or an attempted armed, non-consensual boarding, .......... It might also include the act of brandishing weapons directed at crewmembers or security personnel, where there is a reasonable belief that the attacker(s) also has the means and opportunity to inflict great bodily harm or death on the individual or others in the vicinity.

and

when confronted with a person or vessel that poses an imminent danger of death or great bodily harm, personnel and vessels to which this guidance applies may use reasonable force, up to and including deadly force, in self-defense or defense of others.