The Dutch parliament has accepted a decision by Defense Minister Eimert van Middelkoop not to put armed marines onboard Dutch vessels sailing through Somali waters, the Financiele Dagblad newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The minister convinced parliament of this decision during a debate on Monday.

Van Middelkoop, however, is willing to ask the commander of the EU anti-piracy mission to allow the Dutch to use a frigate from the mission to individually escort a vulnerable ship in exceptional cases.

He said this will be done for six to eight ships each year whose speed is less than 10 knots and whose owner can find no other solution for its protection.

Van Middelkoop denied the swollen figures Dutch shippers have reported. The shippers claimed that every year there are 50 to 80 ships that are so slow and low in the water that they require additional protection near the coast of Somalia. The minister said that figure includes vessels that have a low boarding point but can sail fast enough in a convoy.

At parliament's request, the minister agreed to take a fresh look at the model adopted by France, which wants to use marines on vessels with a navy frigate in the vicinity.

Van Middelkoop is opposed to this because of too many legal obstacles, high costs and possible escalation of violence. The pirates could arm themselves more heavily.

Source: Xinhua