Pirates, Firearms, and the High Seas

[Defective_Detective]

I’ve always dreamed of having my own boat and sailing around the world for a few years. But what to do about those pirates? It’s really very nasty and dangerous out there, which gets me to thinking about self-defense.

How is one supposed to defend one’s vessel on the high seas if your defense weapons are not allowed when you come in to port?

I’m pretty sure that letting loose with a pair of .50 caliber machine guns from my yacht would be enough to convince any pirate to look elsewhere for their prey. But while I think I may be allowed to have them in the USA, it is probably not allowed in any other country. Can I just stow my weapons below decks while in foreign ports? Would authorities expect one to simply throw all one’s weapons overboard when visiting a country where they are illegal? I wouldn’t feel safe in many oceans without it, but if I can’t ever come in to port, that really makes things difficult as far as provisions and sightseeing!

Have any of you had experience with this, or do you at least know of some reputable websites that discuss this?

[pravnik]

On-board sea ninjas?

[Will_Repair]

Have you tried the Cruisers Forum? Discussions there on sailing and firearms.

Bilges are a good spot for storage until you actually venture into questionable waters.
Although I’ve often thought of modifying the keel for a compartment only accessible outside the ship.

[Billdo]

The question of appropriate piracy defense for long-distance crusing vessels is a hotly debated topic in yachting circles (and in commercial shipping, for that matter).

I don’t know much about it, but I have a vague recollection of reading that if a US flag vessel travelling to Canada possesses firearms that are illegal in Canada, they may be secured in a locked compartment that is sealed by Canadian customs at the first Canadian port of entry.

[Maeglin]

A Long Range Acoustic Device" was successfully used by the cruise ship Seabourne Spirit to defend itself against piracy. Whether this is practical for your use, well, depends on the size of your boat.

[GorillaMan]

@Maeglin

A Long Range Acoustic Device" was successfully used by the cruise ship Seabourne Spirit to defend itself against piracy. Whether this is practical for your use, well, depends on the size of your boat.

Depends on the supplies of the pirates, too:

@the link

Countermeasures may include the use of passive hearing protection (earplugs, headsets), which may bring the sound down to ineffective levels.

[Mk_VII]

Here, at any rate, there is provision for firearms that are part of a ship’s equipment and aren’t brought ashore

[Defective_Detective]

Thanks, Will Repair, there are a lot of good discussions on that forum. One in particular seems to be the result of in-depth research:

Firearms Regulations by Country - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

It seems most foreign countries are able to make reasonable provisions for mariners. Options usually include either locking your weapons onboard, or leaving them with the port authority until you depart. The only disappointment is Mexico, where no one is allowed weapons of any sort, but the good news is one need not sail through pirate-infested waters to get there in the first place.

Mk VII, did you forget to post a handy link? It happens to the best of us, I know.

[Crafter_Man]

Slightly OT, but here is a firsthand account of a guy who sailed from San Diego to NE Florida. He had a number of firearms onboard, including a Mini-14. Problem was, he had to make an unexpected fuel stop in Mexico. Guns are illegal in Mexico, so he dumped his guns in the ocean before heading to shore.

[Mk_VII]

I could cite http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/operational-policing/HO-Firearms-Guidance.pdf
para 6.41

[Spoons]

@Billdo

I don’t know much about it, but I have a vague recollection of reading that if a US flag vessel travelling to Canada possesses firearms that are illegal in Canada, they may be secured in a locked compartment that is sealed by Canadian customs at the first Canadian port of entry.

It doesn’t seem so. This page from the Canadian government says the following on non-residents bringing firearms into Canada:

When you bring a firearm to Canada, you must comply with the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations.

To be able to bring a restricted firearm to Canada in person, you will need to obtain an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from the CFO of the province where you will be entering Canada. If you have a valid PAL and registration certificate, you will be able to apply in advance. If you will be bringing the firearms with you and declaring them with a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, you will need to wait until your declaration has been confirmed, before you call the CFO to request an ATT.

The US Coast Guard is a little briefer, but says essentially the same thing:

To bring a non-restricted firearm into Canada you must be at lease 18 years of age and you must declare your firearms at your first point of entry. There is a fee for bringing a firearm into Canada. To bring a restricted firearm into Canada you must be at least 18 years and you will have to get prior to your arrival in Canada a Authorisation to Transport (ATT) permit from a provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer (CFO). You cannot get an ATT for the purpose of…self-protection.

Failure to declare firearms will result in charges being laid.

Nothing is said about Canada Customs sealing a locked compartment. What is said, is that all firearms must be declared, fees must be paid, and some firearms will require prior permission from a provincial CFO before you arrive in Canada. And if you state that you need restricted firearms for protection, you won’t get permission, period.

[Billdo]

@Spoons

It doesn’t seem so. This page from the Canadian government says the following on non-residents bringing firearms into Canada:

Well, I guess my vague recollection (always an authoritative cite) has proven incorrect, though I will note that the cruisersforum page states that the current regulations came into force in 2001, and I think my vague recollection predates that.

[Raguleader]

@GorillaMan

Depends on the supplies of the pirates, too:

I suppose he could equip his craft with a microwave gun instead, though I don’t know if it’s possible to get one of those if you’re ont in the military. Also, if you use it against foil-wrapped pirates, don’t be suprised if you accidentally start a fire.

@Defective Detective

The only disappointment is Mexico, where no one is allowed weapons of any sort, but the good news is one need not sail through pirate-infested waters to get there in the first place.

Well, the carribean is one of the more troublesome places for piracy, but that’s probably not an issue if you stay in US patrolled waters (ie: around Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Florida) and away from the brown water areas.

Now that I’ve gone and typed that, yeah, you probably could sail to Mexico easily while bypassing the more troublesome areas in the Carribean.