Floating armories are converted from vessels built for other purposes, including tugs, cargo ships, trawlers and survey craft,[1] and fly a flag of convenience.
Their primary function is to provide offshore storage facilities for weapons used by anti-piracy guards protecting vessels traversing the part of the Indian Ocean known as the "High Risk Area", known hunting grounds of pirates from Somalia and elsewhere.
Logging practices for weaponry vary depending on the vessel, as do living conditions for on-board security personnel.
In 2015, the crew of the Seaman Guard Ohio were sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 5,000 rupees,[7] although that verdict was set aside on appeal.
There is thus no demand for nearby offshore weapons storage, so floating armouries are confined to the High Risk Area.
An older use of the term refers to ships no longer suitable for their original purpose, converted to use as armouries permanently located at a port (sometimes used also as training vessels).