Private navy takes on Somali pirates

As successful ship hijacking continues the private navy, which is Britain’s first in almost two centuries, has been set up to take on the Somali pirates who are terrorising a stretch of the Indian Ocean along the east coast of Africa.

The company behind the venture, Typhon, is being created by Simon Murray, independent non executive chairman of global commodities trader, Glencore. Mr Murray said the main reason for the venture was because the Royal Navy, NATO and the European Union Naval Force lack the vessels to patrol the area, which is as large as North America.

Anthony Sharp, chief executive, Typhon, told The Sunday Times: “They can’t do the job because they haven’t got the budget. Deploying a billion pound warship against six guys [pirates] with US$500 of kit is not a very good use of the asset.”

Funded by shipping firms, Typhon’s fleet will include a 10,000 tonne mother ship and high speed armoured patrol boats which will be led by an ex-Royal Navy commodore and 240 former marines and sailors.

The private navy will escort oil tankers, bulk carriers and yachts around the east coast of Africa with the aim of deterring pirates from attacking its convoys. Its fleet will sail under a sovereign flag which gives them the legal rights to carry weapons into harbour.