U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Jon Rasmussen A team from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) tows the lifeboat from the Maersk Alabama to Boxer on April 13, 2009. They processed the lifeboat for evidence after rescuing Capt. Richard Phillips who was held captive by suspected Somali pirates for five days after a failed hijacking attempt off the Somali coast. Boxer was deployed as part of Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group⁄13th MEU supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility.

‘‘Pirates are very adaptable and too often, they win,” said NSWC Dam Neck Commanding Officer Capt. Steve Kelley, who brought a crucial warfigher’s perspective to the anti-piracy conference. ‘‘This workshop is about finding technology possibilities for sailors at sea – whether in uniform or not.”

Participants – from U.S. and international navies, The U.S. Navy’s warfare centers, industry and academia – shared their insight and expertise to gain a better understanding of the issue and develop improved ways to combat piracy.

‘‘We are thankful that all of the participants brought us their perspectives, especially the coalition viewpoint,” said workshop organizer Ray Campfield. ‘‘Anti-piracy solutions are neither nation nor Navy specific. We must continue to work together and include our commercial shipping partners to achieve interoperable, integrated solutions for Navy, coalition and joint forces worldwide.”

Navy warfare center systems integration experts can now look at diverse viewpoints and ideas to enhance their anti-piracy technological solutions, according to NSWCDD leadership which is planning additional opportunities to keep the anti-piracy dialog going.

‘‘The Navy warfare centers need to better understand the issues surrounding piracy and what the Fleet needs today to deal with it so that we may best shape the solutions from a technical standpoint,” said Campfield, a national workload manager based at the Dahlgren laboratory.

The workshop featured a technical exchange between United Kingdom and U.S. Navy engineers.

‘‘We assembled this diverse group of subject matter experts to explore the art of the possible with regard to technology in the world of anti – or counter – piracy,” said Capt. Kelley, who experienced piracy incidents first hand while stationed in Bahrain as Commander of all Navy at-sea logistics forces in the Middle East at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command⁄CTF-53 last year.