Taiwan aiming to allow armed guards on civilian ships
ROC Central News Agency
2013/03/14 20:29:45
Taipei, March 14 (CNA) The Cabinet passed a draft bill Thursday to allow deep-sea fishing boats and shipping vessels to carry private armed security guards on board to deter piracy.
The Taiwan government is following the lead of the International Maritime Organization and 13 countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., that permit the owners of civilian ships to deploy armed guards on board, according to the bill.
The aim is to help deal with the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia, which has been a threat to international shipping and fishery, the Cabinet's amendments to the Fisheries Act and Shipping Law indicate.
Ship owners wishing to place armed guards on their vessels will have to seek government approval and will be required to confine the firearms to the ship, the bill stipulates.
Violation of the regulations could result in fines of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 (US$2,020 to US$10,101) for fishing vessels and NT$500,000 to NT$3 million for shipping companies, according to the amendments. The bill now has to be sent to Legislature for review.
In 2011, a Taiwanese fishing vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates off East Africa. The Taiwanese skipper was killed in crossfire between a U.S. Navy vessel and the pirates, who were attacking the U.S. boat from the Taiwanese vessel.
That year, European and Taiwanese officials held discussions on combating piracy, noting that the deployment of armed security guards on ships has proven effective in combating piracy.
(By Justin Su and Ann Chen)
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