The growing pirate threat off the Nigerian coast, dangers that remain from Somali maritime marauders, and the key role played by professional Private Maritime Security Companies PMSCs, were three of the most important concerns addressed in the latest edition of Maritime TV’s series on piracy mitigation strategies, AdvanFort Company President William H. Watson has noted.

Watson, who participated in the program with Donna Hopkins, U.S. State Department Coordinator on Counter Piracy and Maritime Security, and maritime lawyer and author John A.C. Cartner, also stressed the key role played by the State Department and other U.S. government agencies, singling out Hopkins, who also heads the U.N Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, for praise.

“Having recently applauded before the U.S. Congress the use of private contracted armed security teams as a ‘game changer’ in the effort to combat the transnational organized crime of piracy,” Watson said, “the State Department’s own efforts to enlist countries, private enterprise and non-government organizations from around the world in the fight is nothing short of inspirational.”

Tags: AdvanFort Company