EU NAVFOR has accused some ships of taking risks and playing 'chicken' when passing through pirate-risk areas. Speaking at the International Chamber of Shipping, Major General Buster Howes said that it was usually smaller shipowners that were most at risk from being attacked. "Some shipowners are just disorganised. Their margins are modest, their ships are modest, and they kind of go 'chicken'," he said. Howes also accused ships of failing to maintain adequate lookouts and not registering with the maritime forces when transiting the region's waters. "It's cock-up, not conspiracy," he added. Rear Admiral Hank Ort of the Dutch Navy echoed the comments, blaming most attacks on "negligence rather than design".
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