Firm offering piracy protection crews

Firm offering piracy protection crews    A New Orleans-based firm best known for acting as “repo men” of the maritime world said it is launching a service to protect ships from pirates.
   Vessel Extractions LLC said it would put armed teams on merchant ships to protect them from attack.
   With its Shiprotek service, the company said a team would board a client’s vessel anywhere in the world, escort it through troubled areas, and disembark in its next safe port. During the voyage, it said its team would assesses the ship’s security situation, train the crew in anti-piracy techniques, implement procedures to minimize risk, and assist the crew in maintaining anti-piracy watch. When a threat is identified, the team would implements counter-piracy procedures.
   “Unfortunately, military forces and law enforcement agencies can’t patrol all of the world’s pirate-infested waters,” said Michael Bono, a maritime attorney and managing director of the company.
   “The defense of a ship under armed attack cannot be left to an untrained, unarmed civilian crew,' said Capt. Max Hardberger, Vessel Extraction’s operations director. 'Our highly skilled and well-equipped teams offer effective and cost-efficient protection for ships going in harm’s way.”
   Vessel Extractions performs vessel and aircraft extraction and protection for mortgagees, owners, charterers and insurers.