[...] No subject in cruising is as fiercely debated as the question of carrying firearms at sea. Firearms can not only help you defend your vessel and crew from actual attacks they can also act as a powerful deterrence, a crew wielding shotguns makes for an intimidating sight. UNCLOS does not regulate the carriage of arms for defensive purposes and there is no express legal prohibition on having firearms in international waters. Despite this, virtually all international and Australian maritime guidelines strongly recommend against the practice of carrying arms at sea due largely to the threat of violent escalation and higher associated risks. Unless the crew is educated, trained and comfortable in the handling and operation of firearms, they are a liability on-board.
Firearms complicate matters even further when entering territorial waters as the vessel becomes subject to the laws and regulations of the coastal state. Although, each state may have different requirements for processing international yachts, virtually all countries require you to declare onboard firearms, with customs often confiscating them for the duration of your stay. To avoid this scenario ship masters would adopt the philosophy that it was better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. However, stricter global regulations post-9/11 makes the begging option exceedingly risky. In not declaring arms to custom officials you are automatically in possession of illegal firearms and may even be charged with import offences. A case in point was in 2005 when wealthy Australian yachtsman Christopher Packer was boarded and searched by Indonesian authorities as he left Bali. Undeclared firearms were found and he was imprisoned for three months in Denpasar's notorious Kerobokan prison. To avoid a similar fate it is essential to check with customs and port authorities regarding local firearm laws before entering a port. [...]
Piracy, Firearms and the High Seas
