Piracy in the waters surrounding Somalia continues to be a problem for the world’s shipping. Each year ship owners have paid millions of dollars in ransoms to Somali pirates who have captured their ships and crews, and as a result the pirates have become increasingly well-equipped, with advanced weaponry and fast motorboats, and this in turn means that it is harder for ships to prevent and repel pirate attacks.
It is obviously not permissible for ships to use lethal force against suspected pirates in their vicinity, so ships have had to resort to less effective means of self-protection, such as the use of water cannons. However, the worries of ship owners may soon be over if the WatchSander system developed for the US navy becomes standard issue. The WatchSander system uses a combination of light cannons, sound cannons, laser cannons and pepper dispensing projectiles.
If the WatchSander system does not entirely succeed in preventing piracy, at least it treats all of the participants to a sound-and-light spectacular. It also includes technology for distinguishing pirate boats from non-threatening boats, so that the sound-and-light show is not launched against the wrong people. It is fully automated, so the show may come as a surprise to all participants.