carry

To carry a vessel means to seize it by boarding, a tactic where one ship closes alongside another and transfers armed personnel across to overcome the crew and take control. This differs from ramming or cannon fire; it is an action of direct assault requiring the attacking vessel to achieve and maintain close proximity long enough to effect the transfer of fighting force. Historically central to naval warfare and piracy, carrying remains relevant in modern maritime security operations, particularly in counter-piracy work in high-risk waters.

The success of a carry depends entirely on the attacking vessel's ability to match speed and course with its target while maintaining position despite wind, current, and any evasive maneuvers. This is why smaller, more maneuverable ships have traditionally held the advantage, and why modern security vessels are designed with hull fendering, boarding davits, and rapid-response team platforms. The boarding party must cross the gap between hulls, which may be accomplished by grappling hooks, boarding nets, secured lines, or in modern operations, RHIBs (rigid-hull inflatable boats) positioned at the gap.

Operational context and risk factors

A successful carry requires surprise, speed, and numerical superiority of the boarding force. Weather and sea state severely constrain the window of opportunity; rough seas make the gap passage hazardous and may render the maneuver impossible. The attacking vessel must also account for the target ship's own crew, defensive measures, cargo hazards (particularly with tankers or chemical vessels), and the legal and jurisdictional implications of boarding in international waters or territorial seas.

Modern maritime security distinguishes between a lawful boarding under international maritime law and an unlawful seizure or piracy. Official naval and coast guard boarding parties operate under specific rules of engagement and legal authority. Commercial security vessels operate within narrower constraints, and private armed security teams on merchant vessels have further limitations on use of force. The term carry itself is largely historical in formal naval doctrine; today's operations are called boardings, and the tactical methodology differs substantially from the close-quarters assaults of earlier eras.

The practical hazards of carrying remain acute: personnel transfer in heavy weather, structural damage from collision or grappling, armed resistance, and navigation risk in confined or shallow waters all create genuine danger. Modern boarding protocols emphasize communication, de-escalation, and identification before any use of force, reflecting both legal requirements and operational safety.