| | High-seas piracy a boon for Blackwater mercs
 As the world's governments grapple with the growing threat of seeing valuable seafaring vessels shanghaied by increasingly bold pirates, one for-hire paramilitary force is gearing up to turn major profits off the crisis.
Blackwater Worldwide, a Moyock, North Carolina-based mercenary force, says its maritime forces are ready to throw its weight into the battle for the high seas. The group has retrofitted an ex-research vessel to carry over 30 "operators" on missions to protect other ships.
Blackwater Worldwide is perhaps best known for its contracting with the United States military in Iraq. On Friday, federal investigators said they are preparing indictments for Blackwater mercenaries who murdered 17 fleeing Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.
In a Thursday segment on Fox News, reporter Jennifer Griffin talked with Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, who claimed his group has been approached by 66 shipping and insurance companies concerned about the growing threat of piracy.
"In effect, Blackwater wants to try to intercept these pirates before they even get close enough to these ships in order to board the ships, so that you don't have any shootouts on the high seas," said Griffin.
This video is from Fox's Happening Now, broadcast Nov. 20, 2008.
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