Pirates hijacked the couple's boat off the coast of Oman last week, apparently killing them and another American couple on board Tuesday as U.S. forces tried to negotiate a rescue. Targeting a civilian couple is seen as an escalation by the pirates. Scott and Jean Adam, boaters who were based out of Marina del Rey, had been on the high seas for several years, adventuring and distributing Bibles.
Pirating has become an international issue in the last decade and has been difficult to stop, given Somalia's weak government.
During 2008 alone, the pirates are believed to have collected more than $50 million, according to a Los Angeles Times report from Africa at the time."
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Merchant Vessel Defense Against Pirates
Preemptive Measures Can Prevent Boarding and Hostage Taking
Too often, ship operators fail to take proper anti-piracy security measures, effectively turning their merchant vessels into “Golden Geese” ripe for the taking, writes the author. He goes on to discuss proven methods of hardening commercial ships and training their crews to prevent pirates – whether from Somalia or elsewhere – from boarding vessels and taking crews hostage.
