[RWebb]

maybe the Chinese can use their forthcoming carrier to help protect the sea lanes...

it is simply cheaper for a ship owner to pay the ransom than to hire guards; big ships run with minimal crew -- you would need a LOT of add'l crew or guards - you can't do it with just a few guys per ship

nor would I want to be a person sitting at a port, trying to filter out the pirates -- they are part of the whole society now.

They have certainly gotten more bold and can expect to have a bunch of nation-states on their ass soon.

Iranian grain ship captured yesterday

-- what a great way for nation-states to patch up their differences.... a common enemy...