By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 19, 2008 9:29:26 EDT
The military contractor Blackwater Worldwide is offering to protect merchant ships from pirates, the company announced Thursday, advertising the security services of its ship for use off the coast of Somalia or elsewhere.
A rash of pirate attacks has driven up the cost of insurance and pay for crew members aboard the thousands of merchant vessels that pass off the Horn of Africa, the company said, making it comparatively economical to engage its ship, the McArthur, and its crew of ex-military specialists.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_blackwater_pirates_101708w/
