Dutch lines weigh armed escorts to combat piracy

  At least four Dutch shipping companies have taken out insurance packages that include a hefty discount if they use an armed escort to sail through the Gulf of Aden, Dutch newspaper Volkskrant reported Wednesday.

   The use of an armed escort boat through piracy-ridden region allows carriers to avoid the ban on Dutch ships carrying weapons, the report said.

   Last week, the Dutch Antillean ship Marathon was hijacked by pirates and is now thought to be off the coast of Somalia.

Source: Americanshipper