As modern-day piracy continues to be a real threat to ships in some parts of the world, people are likewise continually coming up with new ways of projecting crews and passengers against attacks. While some anti-piracy systems have utilized things such as sound waves and lasers, a new one uses something that is decidedly lower tech – flailing water hoses.
The Anti-Piracy Curtain was designed by a division of Japan’s NYK Group, along with hose manufacturer Yokoi. It’s intended for use on smaller ships (which are more vulnerable to attacks), and consists of a series of patented hoses that are dangled off the port and starboard sides of the vessel.
The ship’s existing fire-fighting system pumps seawater into those hoses, which spray it out via their high-pressure nozzles at a force of 0.2 megapascals. That figure might not mean much to most people, but it’s evidently enough to send the hoses into violently unpredictable gyrations, packing enough force to seriously injure anyone who gets in their way.
Sinkers attached to the ends of the hoses keep them down near the pirate boats, while rubber covers on the nozzles and sinkers reportedly stop them from damaging the paint on the ship’s hull.
Along with packing a nasty wallop, the hoses also ... well, they also spray water. Besides getting in the pirates’ eyes, there would apparently be enough of it getting sprayed out to fill up the attacking boats at a rate of over one centimeter (0.39 in) per minute. Needless to say, that would depend on the size of the boat.
While the hoses should certainly pose a couple of practical challenges to pirates trying to board a vessel, they’re also intended to be a psychological weapon – with their bright yellow color and wildly snaking movements, they’re highly visible from far away. The hope is that pirates wouldn’t even bother approaching a ship that’s using them.
In tests of the system, the Anti-Piracy Curtain has already been shown to be capable of operating continuously for two weeks. Sea trials are planned next – there’s no word on whether or not those trials will involve attacks by actual pirates.
More information is available in the video below.
First, megapascals is a unit of pressure, not force. Second, it would have taken a few seconds to convert 0.2 MPA to 29 psi for American readers.
That said, it's a decent idea. Although I'm rather partial to flamethrowers armored with steel plate pointing down the gunwales. Guess I'm just a little bloodthirsty when dealing with pirates.
Why the reluctance to use deadly force?
They are ship crews, not military personal. Excluding some countries (or states to be more specific) not everybody wants to fire a gun. Good luck finding a crew who is trained in combat and can reliably do their task on the ship as well.
And unless they painted the ship in facepaint I think it has a fairly reasonable chance of withstanding a couple weeks of fire-hose 'abrasion'.
Only a matter of time before the pirates figure our how to catch the hose and use is as a rope.
Anyway, they'd never win a gunfight with pirates. A cargo ship is a really, really big target, and these pirates have RPGs designed to take out tanks.
The bridge on most ships is usually 5 to 8 stories above the water = Height Advantage.
The ship is BIG and stable = aiming and accuracy advantage. , The pirates have small boats bobbing around in the ocean = total disadvantage.
The steel plate composing the ends of the Bridge provide full body coverage against most gun fire. The Pirates are getting shot at from above in open boats.
In terms of who can shoot who, a few hundred rounds down into the smaller boats, from a great range, with very remote chance of getting hit ones's self - it's a great idea.
Until the pirates get self guided man portable missiles.... but that is another issue of COST and when they revert to this, instead of simply raiding the ships and taking hostages, then they risk the comeback of openly being attacked themselves with more and better armed crews on the ships... including military coverage and hardware on board.
2 or 4 soldiers onboard - with extra hardware.... A few hundred rounds through a 1/2" caliber machine gun....
Personally I have never liked the idea of bending over with my pants around my ankles for any one.
Pirates, thieves and stand over merchants even less so.