Question: Do you consider the moral implications of creating killing machines?

Emma Bould answered on 14 Mar 2012:

That’s a tough question!

Firstly, not all of the machines I look after are “killing machines” as you put it. My job involves looking after equipment which is there to keep people safe too. Things like our navigation equipment is there to keep the ship and the 200 people who live on board safe. We also have computers, and things like Sonars which are for finding submarines so we don’t run them over and we can keep track of them

Our weapon systems on my ship are mostly there to keep us safe, and also the interests of the country – and there are very strict rules about when we can and can’t use them. Generally we use them if we are in danger from someone else firing at us. It means that we can do things like stop pirates and also narcotic smugglers from breaking the law.

I sleep at night because I know that we don’t go out with the intention to harm anyone, and if we did have to use any of the weapons it would be because someone’s life was in danger. Unfortunately not everyone has the same control and strict rules, or the same respect for each other so that’s why we have to be able to protect ourselves.