Various media channels have recently reported how recordings of 'hit' songs by Britney Spears played very loudly are used by Merchant Navy ships to deter pirates from trying to board them and kidnap crews and passengers for whom very large ransom sums can be demanded. For examples of such reports see http://www.theguardian.c...avy-scare-somali-pirates and http://www.mirror.co.uk/...usic-blasted-out-2646660 As some forum users may wonder how this topic is relevant to OS&H, here are some points to consider: Firstly, piracy and kidnapping is a major risk for people on ships which have to traverse the sea area involved. This is reflected by reports that the Royal Navy has some 1500 sailors and officers on 14 warships to provide continuous patrols in the area. (Does anyone know if other navies also patrol the area?) In 2011 there were 176 recorded attacks on ships and 25 of them were successful. The methods of the pirates can pose a significant risk of death and injury for people on the ships they attack. Those who are kidnapped face physical privation in various ways including inadequate food, lack of medical facilities and confinement in cramped insanitary conditions. In addition they face psychological trauma from their experience combined with anxiety about whether or not and when ransoms will be paid for them. It is understandable that nations, employers and/or families which pay ransoms do not reveal details of the negotiations and sums involved. Therefore, if the playing of Western 'pop' songs is a measure which helps to repel the pirates, it's one which is remarkably cheap, simple and reasonably practicable in relation to the potentially high human and financial risks involved. Secondly, on a wider scale, the measure appears to be a good example of how seemingly unconventional solutions can be found for some situations. It's a variation (for circumstances which are vastly more serious) of how classical music can be used to deter teenagers/yobbos from congregating in some public places as discussed in the forum thread "Mahler in the fight against anti-social behaviour!" during summer 2011. p.s. Apologies to anyone who was misled by the journalist-style title for this thread and had a fleeting mental image of Ms Spears personally wielding a machine gun on board a ship somewhere off Somalia! :-)

Does she get paid royalties for this? Who raided the Somali pirates CD collection to figure out what they didn't like?

No, it was a pirate copy! I'll get me coat.

What makes me laugh is that they're willing to risk their lives boarding a ship but draw the line at listening to Britney!

According to a comment posted below the Daily Mirror internet article I quoted, the equipment used to defend vulnerable ships is a long range acoustic device (LRAD), a special directional speaker operated at volumes designed to cause physical pain and thus deter attackers or disperse rioters. Therefore, the actual songs, music or sounds emitted by an LRAD might be of little significance compared with the volume of the emission and its capacity to inflict pain or discomfort. This prompts a hope that those on board the besieged ships, especially the operators of the LRADs, are provided with effective hearing protection. Also, can the pirates obtain and use hearing protection to enable them to withstand the noise or would nothing protect them if they are within the range of an active LRAD?

love the humour - credit to the quick wits..... I have to say, I would run a mile at lightening speed to escape Britney.........and I am not sure there is such a thing as suitable hearing protection to assist there.... I had to admit, I thought this was a premature Friday posting.......however, it has put some much needed humour into anotherwise dull week..... Thanks all

Better tell the navy to stop playing Ms Spears before they are sued for breach of the noise regs!!! AS did that escapee who had the cheek to complain, having gained asylum here saying he wanted to escape the hardship of his homeland and some pratt gave the nod even though it was known that he was a terrorist.

I can't help but think If was part of the Royal Navy I would rather be issued a gun, opposed to a Britney CD. At the very least a CD of gun fire. Can you imagine, you have just signed up, hair cut, and issued with uniform and a Britney CD. Told you must keep the CD on you at all times and familiarise yourself where all the CD players are on board. Training will be how to throw the cd into the player from at least 10 feet and how not to get caught in the blast radius. I'm so going to get in trouble for this.

Won't the pirates just buy ( sorry, steal ) some ear plugs?

They should have played the Leonard Cohen back catalogue... the pirates would have lost the will to live ... (I'm a Big LC fan but if your not you'll get the point)