Prime Minister David Cameron announced in October that ships sailing under a British flag would be able to carry armed guards to protect them from pirates - under licence from the Home Office - but only while passing through dangerous waters, such as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Why not offer the ships a team of say three Royal Marines with the company paying for the cost. The Royal Marines can engage any pirates at any range using whatever force they deem necessary - not just for the protection of the ship they are on but for the good of all traffic in the area. Rules of engagement should ensure the marines are supported.
Encourage the US to do the same, offering SEALs to any ship, the French, Germans and Chinese too. Make it a true force to be reckoned with at minimum cost and discourage the attraction of piracy by making sure that anyone who attempts it is either dead or stranded.
The international community already has a naval force in the area but with such a huge area and such a small number of ships the best way to combat the pirates would be to distribute the forces on the targets.
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