Laser to thwart pirate attacks could provide lifeline for shipping industry

The war against pirates could be about to get more evenly-sided with the development of a new anti-pirate laser that temporarily blinds the predators.



BAE Sytems has developed the laser system that it says would prevent pirates from being able to aim their weapons at targeted oil tankers and container ships in the waters.



The global defence and security company says that at distances greater than 2km the beam, housed on moving ships, would provide a visual warning to pirates to deter them from an attack attempt.



Eye-safe Laser



The United Nations does not allow weapons designed to cause permanent blindness and although the laser can temporarily blind pirates, it does not damage the eye in any way from any distance.



"The effect is similar to when a fighter pilot attacks from the direction of the sun. The glare from the laser is intense enough to make it impossible to aim weapons like AK47s or RPGs, but doesn’t have a permanent effect," said Roy Evans, BAE Systems capability technology lead for laser photonic systems.



However, BAE added that further safety tests must be carried out before the system can be put on the market.



BAE said that when fitted on commercial ships the laser distraction system could utilise its own targeting capability or integrate with existing ship radar and sensor systems to control the direction and power of the beam, while having security features so that it could not be used by pirates if they boarded the ship.



The Pirate Problem



The shipping industry has been plagued by pirate attacks in recent years which have threatened vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean.



The International Chamber Of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said there were 430 pirate attacks worldwide reported in 2010, up from 406 in 2009.



Last month we reported that the area pirates operate in was expanding from off the Somalian coast, where pirates from the region are responsible for almost half of the attacks according to the IMB.



Container ship the MV Panama was seized 80 nautical miles east of the Tanzanian/Mozambique border and the MV Renaur approximately 1050 nautical miles east of the Somali coastal village of Eyl.



The MV Jahan Moni cargo ship , carrying 43,000 tonnes of nickel, was also seized in the Gulf of Aden.



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