Unatoč značajnim akcijama međunarodne zajednice poduzetim u cilju suzbijanja somalskog piratstva, eskalacija broja i žestine napada na trgovačke brodove uz obale Somalije, u Adenskom zaljevu i na širem području Indijskog oceana, nameću pitanje učinkovitosti tih akcija. To je ujedno i jedan od razloga što se sve više brodara u zadnje vrijeme odlučuje angažirati naoružanu pratnju radi obrane svojih brodova i zaštite pomoraca od napada pirata. Tome se više ne protivi ni međunarodna zajednica što se može vidjeti iz zadnjih preporuka Međunarodne pomorske organizacije (IMO), a i sve veći broj država donosi nove propise kojima omogućuju brodarima da angažiraju naoružanu pratnju ili čak naoružaju posadu radi samoobrane. Preporuke IMO-a prepuštaju državama zastave broda odlučiti hoće li dopustiti i pod kojim uvjetima naoružanu pratnju na brodovima koji viju njihovu zastavu, a brodare obvezuju da nakon sveobuhvatnog utvrđivanja rizika zajedno sa zapovjednikom broda i imajući u vidu propise zastave broda i propise luke i obalne države u svezi ukrcaja/iskrcaja i tranzita naoružane pratnje i oružja, u svakoj konkretnoj situaciji odluče, je li potrebno i pod kojim uvjetima angažirati naoružanu pratnju. Ovim člankom analiziraju se priroda i uzroci suvremenog piratstva s naglaskom na somalsko, mjere međunarodne zajednice radi njegovog suzbijanja, problem plaćanja otkupnine, pravni okvir i ograničavajući, pravni i drugi čimbenici, koji su doveli do potrebe angažiranja naoružane pratnje na trgovačkim brodovima radi obrane od piratskih napada. Despite the significant actions taken by the international community to combat Somali piracy, the escalation of the number and severity of the attacks on merchants ships off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and wider area of Indian ocean, poses the question of effectiveness of those actions. In view of this, more and more ship owners resort to engaging armed security guards to protect their ships and crew against pirate attacks. This is no longer opposed by the international community which can be seen from the latest recommendations of International Maritime Organization (IMO) and it is also supported by increasing number of States which are issuing new regulations enabling the ship owners to engage armed guards or even to arm the ships’ crew for self-defence.IMO recommendations are leaving to Flag States to decide whether or not they will allow, and under which conditions, engagement of armed guards on the ships flying their flag, and are obliging ship owners to carry out a thorough risk assessment together with the ship’s master, and taking into account any flag State and port and coastal States’ regulations in relation to embarkation/disembarkation and transit of the armed guards and weapons, to decide in each particular case whether it is necessary, and under which terms and conditions, to engage armed guards.This article analyses the nature and causes of modern piracy with an emphasis on Somali piracy, international community response and the legal framework available to combat it, complexity of ransom payments and the legal and other barriers which lead to the need for engaging armed guards on merchant ships for defending against pirate attacks.