02-26-2014, 11:42 AM
Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Frederick, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman, said the service was investigating the deaths, as required by American law. But he said the deaths "do not appear to be criminal in nature, related to vessel operations, the material condition of the ship or their duties as security personnel."
The two men were contractors for The Trident Group, a security company owned by ex Navy Seals. Trident obviously has quite a vested interest; they're likely investigating independently, IMO. Reynolds and Kennedy were on shore leave at the time of their deaths; they shared a cabin on the Maersk Alabama - a Norfolk, Va.-based container ship that provides food and peace/relief goods and services to the east coast of Africa.
![[Image: article-2566772-1BAF2FA800000578-71_634x429.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/24/article-2566772-1BAF2FA800000578-71_634x429.jpg)
"Based on our experience with the contractor, this is an isolated incident," Maersk said. But it said new drug tests would start immediately and the company's shore-leave policy was under review.
Whatever caused their deaths, may they rest in peace.
![[Image: article-2566772-1BAF3E3C00000578-609_306x423.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/24/article-2566772-1BAF3E3C00000578-609_306x423.jpg)
Jeffrey Reynolds, 43.
![[Image: article-2566772-1BAF6AE300000578-668_306x423.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/24/article-2566772-1BAF6AE300000578-668_306x423.jpg)
Mark Kennedy, 44.
I didn't know much about piracy in Africa. According to Bloomberg, it costs the global economy over $5 billion USD annually. Huge business.
Piracy by Somalians in East Africa has gone way down since vessels began employing maritime security guards, like Reynolds and Kennedy, a few years back. Last year there were only 2 successful pirating attempts -- the lowest since 2004.
In West Africa, however, law does not permit the use of armed private non-local security guards; the piracy and hostage-taking there continues to increase. Pirates took 49 people hostage and kidnapped 35 off Nigeria, the most since 2008.
Refs:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/25/world/asia...sk-deaths/
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01...rds-navies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...SEALs.html
The two men were contractors for The Trident Group, a security company owned by ex Navy Seals. Trident obviously has quite a vested interest; they're likely investigating independently, IMO. Reynolds and Kennedy were on shore leave at the time of their deaths; they shared a cabin on the Maersk Alabama - a Norfolk, Va.-based container ship that provides food and peace/relief goods and services to the east coast of Africa.
"Based on our experience with the contractor, this is an isolated incident," Maersk said. But it said new drug tests would start immediately and the company's shore-leave policy was under review.
Whatever caused their deaths, may they rest in peace.
Jeffrey Reynolds, 43.
Mark Kennedy, 44.
I didn't know much about piracy in Africa. According to Bloomberg, it costs the global economy over $5 billion USD annually. Huge business.
Piracy by Somalians in East Africa has gone way down since vessels began employing maritime security guards, like Reynolds and Kennedy, a few years back. Last year there were only 2 successful pirating attempts -- the lowest since 2004.
In West Africa, however, law does not permit the use of armed private non-local security guards; the piracy and hostage-taking there continues to increase. Pirates took 49 people hostage and kidnapped 35 off Nigeria, the most since 2008.
Refs:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/25/world/asia...sk-deaths/
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01...rds-navies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...SEALs.html