Anti-Piracy classes

It's not exactly like this anymore.

We are not talking software and intellectual property here. Rather, the Associated Press reports that United States maritime academies are putting renewed emphasis on anti-piracy classes. Both the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts offer anti-piracy classes. Some courses even include training in the world's second toastiest pirate hot spot, the Malacca Straits.

Not surprisingly, the educators are against arming crews. The Associated Press quotes professor Donna Nincic from the California Maritime Academy, "It is illegal for crews to carry weapons in the territorial waters of many nations, and ship captains are wary of arming crew members for fear of mutinies. Also, some worry that arming crew members would only cause the violence to escalate."

According to the chairman of the school's marine transportation department, the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, is putting together a new anti-piracy course on nonlethal defense for ship crews. You might recall the Clarion Content linked a few weeks ago to an article on the latest of those techniques and technologies from the BBC.