Page last updated at 17:40 GMT, Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Technology sets sights on piracy  By Daniel Emery Technology
reporter, BBC News  The Sirius Star oil tanker (undated image)
The Sirius Star's cargo has an estimated value of $100m  The
hijacking of giant Saudi oil tanker Sirius Star has focused the
world's attention on piracy.  In the past five years, the number
of piracy attacks around the world has fallen from 452 incidents
in 2003 to 282 in 2007.  But it is a different story off the
coast of Somalia; pirate attacks have increased by 100% in the
past year.  The Sirius Star is the biggest tanker ever to be
hijacked, with a cargo of 2m barrels of oil worth more than
$100m.  Is our technology capable of hurting someone?
Absolutely. Vahan Simidian HPV Technologies  Siren mode  But
other than arming crews - a move opposed by ship owners and
maritime organisations alike - what measures can be put in place
to keep ships, their crew, and cargo safe?  Long-Range Audio
Device (L-RAD) and Magnetic Acoustic Dev