Commercial merchant ships in 2026 generally do not carry heavy-duty weaponry or train their crews in combat for several complex legal, insurance, and operational reasons. First, international maritime law is extremely strict; if a merchant ship carries high-caliber firearms, it must navigate a "legal minefield" regarding the differing gun laws of every nation it visits. Some countries, like Australia or many in the UAE, require weapons to be surrendered to the police or sealed in bonded lockers while in their waters, which can cause massive logistical delays. Second, insurance companies and shipping firms are often hesitant to arm crews because it significantly increases the risk of escalation; if a crew member shoots at a pirate, the pirate is more likely to respond with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) or heavier fire. Furthermore, most shipping companies rely on insurance-backed ransoms as their primary risk management strategy, and they are reluctant to take on the massive liability and training costs of arming their sailors. Instead of arming the crew, many ships in 2026 hire Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) whose specialized teams board the vessel only for the specific "high-risk" transit zones, ensuring that the ship remains "weapon-free" for the rest of its journey.