GAC Maritime Security to market propeller snare to stop pirate skiffs

GAC Maritime Security has added its "P-trap" anti-boarding device to its range of non-lethal vessel protection equipment.

A set of long, thin lines are carried on side booms extending up to 10 metres from the ship's bow on both sides of the ship just below the water surface. Any vessel entering the exclusion zone will run into these lines that will ensnare the propeller, thus disabling the engine.

Designed to be deployed before entering high-risk areas, the P-trap provides protection against multiple attacks, without the need for crew involvement and constant vigilance.

Created by Dutch Westmark BV, the anti-boarding device creates a non-lethal secure barrier around a ship, adding an additional layer of protection from attack.

A winner at the 5th Safety at Sea International Awards and a finalist in the Seatrade Awards and Lloyd's List Awards in 2011, P-trap is an engine blocking system that creates a security zone around the ship to prevent other vessels from approaching too close and attempting to board.

Said Westmark director Maurits Westerbeek van Eerten: "The device is a proven solution that has been deployed in the Gulf of Aden and other high-risk areas. Not only is the P-trap a truly effective vessel hardening measure, it also delivers greater peace of mind for crews transiting high-risk areas."

A company statement said several P-trap systems have been created to fit most seagoing ships, including the P-trap swivel-boom, the most commonly applied system, and the P-trap sliding-boom, designed for vessels with a forward bulkhead.