Why Oil Tankers In The Middle East Shouldn’t Hire Mercenaries

Why Oil Tankers In The Middle East Shouldn’t Hire Mercenaries
ZeroHedge - Jul 15, 2019

Could a private, Blackwater-type private security firm fire the first shot in the gulf which sees Iran and the United States stumble toward a WWIII scenario? That's what has maritime industry analysts which advise shipping companies operating in the Middle East region concerned amid the latest soaring tensions, per a new Reuters report:

Shipping companies sailing through the Middle East Gulf are being urged to avoid having private armed security guards onboard as the risk of escalation in the region rises, industry associations say.

Following the significant rise in Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden over the past two decades off Africa's east coast — which hit its peak about ten years ago — shipping companies have increasingly relied on private security firms to keep their cargo and personnel safe.

However, amid the currently escalating "tanker wars" in the gulf, which has recently included accusations that Iran's elite IRGC attempted to intercept and seize a UK oil tanker, the ‘British Heritage,’ as it was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz to the Persian Gulf, there's growing concern that mercenaries hired by private companies could inadvertently trigger a crisis should they engage with Iran's navy.

"An advisory issued in recent days by leading shipping associations warned against using private armed guards in the critical areas," the Reuters report continued.

“The use of force against threats recently encountered in the Gulf of Oman carries significant risk and has the potential to escalate security situations to the detriment of the safety of ship and crew,” the advisory said.

The advisory recommended unarmed security personnel and advisers: “The use of unarmed maritime advisors to assist with onboard security and watch-keeping is sensible,” it said. However, we wonder what good unarmed guards would do if rapidly boarded by pirates off African coastal waters.

more...https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-Oil-Tankers-In-The-Middle...