THE International Maritime Bureau, which monitors attacks on merchant ships, has recommended the use of 'electronic fences' to alert the crew to attempted boarding. The agency has advised owners to install a non-lethal electronic device produced by Rotterdam-based Secure Marine. If tampered with, the anti-boarding device known as Secure-Ship triggers an alarm and automatically switches on the floodlights. Figures compiled by the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur show that attacks against merchant ships have been rising. Reported attacks world-wide rose to 271 for the first nine months of 2002 against 253 for the corresponding period in 2001. The Malacca Straits continued to be prone to armed attacks with as many as 72 incidents.

24/10/2002 08:13:53 - Fairplay Daily News