Recent observations of Somali pirate tactics indicate that pirates are employing new techniques to board merchant vessels that are using concertina (razor) or barbed wire as a defensive measure.
The pirates have been reported to throw blankets and ladders over the razor wires to circumvent them, while pirates in skiffs shoot at the vessel to facilitate the boarding attempt.
BIMCO, an independent international shipping association, said that pirates must be expected to adjust their techniques according to the resistance they encounter and so, this apparent development should not be surprising.
Mariners should consider this when designing their defensive measures, by using, for instance, multiple layers of razor wire in combination with water hoses, speed and evasive manoeuvres.