Modern Day Pirates and we need the UN? Not the People I know!

[Fatman]

. also, the crew doesn't 'forget ' to raise the ladders.

I meant the sarcasticle forget. The recent rash in Somalia seems to have some help somehow.

[deepwater]

I think the help they get is the fact that some of these crews don't or didn't realize the real danger. they need to keep a constant watch and button down ALL hatches and doors. if they can't get IN the ship to get to the people then they can't take hostages.
     I DO agree that all these vessels should have at least one good rifle, maybe a riot gun and a couple of good handguns. keep them in a locked cabinet thatcan be accessed by the Capt or during an emergency but with an alarm (keep the retards from playing with them).
      On my ship we do piracy drills EVERY MONTH. also bomb threats, stowaway searches, and fire drills / abandon ship drills weekly.

[deepwater]

oh yeah,   here's our protection 

[jaybet]

I don't understand why the Navies of the world have to patrol the area. Do the math:
A 100 million dollar cargo of oil in a boat that's probably worth half a billion dollars, maybe a billion, I don't know... and it is taken hostage by some rukey-dukes in dinghys?
The owner of the boat should be able to afford ten grand to hire ten guards to walk the rails with bullhorns. Anything that comes in range gets a warning, then gets blown out of the water. How hard (or expensive) is that? It beats us driving a few navy boats around out there at half a million a day. In fact, it would be cheaper for US to hire the guards and arm them than to patrol with our navy.
Who's in charge around here?

[sanjuancb]

Where do I sign up? I'm more than willings to shoot the bastards and I know a few sea shanties!

My favorite, Highland Laddie, can be downloaded for free on Holdstock & McLeod's website:
http://www.dickholdstock.com/discography.html

Deepwater, you might appreciate those---they are really good!

Now for these pirates...

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

I don't understand why the Navies of the world have to patrol the area. Do the math:
A 100 million dollar cargo of oil in a boat that's probably worth half a billion dollars, maybe a billion, I don't know... and it is taken hostage by some rukey-dukes in dinghys?
The owner of the boat should be able to afford ten grand to hire ten guards to walk the rails with bullhorns. Anything that comes in range gets a warning, then gets blown out of the water. How hard (or expensive) is that? It beats us driving a few navy boats around out there at half a million a day. In fact, it would be cheaper for US to hire the guards and arm them than to patrol with our navy.
Who's in charge around here?

We are already paying for the Navy to cruise around anyway,so we might as well get some use out of them. Besides, it's good training. But I believe a combination of BOTH is the best approach. Harden the targets by arming the ships, then send the Navy in to take out the support structure. These guys have to fuel their boats and eat somewhere, they don't live on a Boston Whaler.
Picture this, you are a pirate who just spent a hard day getting your boat stitched by .50 cal, you return to your snug little hide out to find a USN Destroyer putting 5 inch shells into your hootch, that would take the charm and glamour out of a pirates life REAL quick. 

[deepwater]

also remember that these ships aren't built for war. they are merchant ships. true they should be armed, but as far as tracking down and enforcing etc... we need to send in the folks that are paid and trained to do this. honestly not sure I would want some of our deckies running around with guns, some of these clown were scared out from under a bridge with the promise of beer money... you get the picture.
    these ships are not built to maneuver or for speed.

[runstowin]

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May 4, 2006
Victory in Tripoli: Lessons for the War on Terrorism
by Joshua E. London
Heritage Lecture #940

Over two centuries ago, the United States was dragged into the affairs of the Islamic world by an escalating series of unprovoked attacks on Americans by Muslim pirates, the terrorists of the era. These pirates preyed on unsuspecting trade ships. The hulk­ing merchant vessels of the period were no match for the Muslim pirate ships, which were built for speed and lightning strikes. It was simply a fact of life that— over the centuries—took its toll on countless mer­chant ships and their crews.

Contemporary scholars estimate that over 1 million white Christians from France and Italy to Spain, Hol­land, Great Britain, the Americas, and even Iceland were captured between 1500 and 1800. The blood­curdling tales of brutality and horror that awaited Christians unlucky enough to fall victim to the Bar­bary Pirates were widely known, although sometimes wildly exaggerated.

The reality was often much more prosaic, although no less cruel. After seizing the cargo and scuttling the vessel, the pirates would strip the crew of anything deemed remotely valuable. The shaken, naked, terri­fied crewmen would then be dragged back to North Africa. There, they would be imprisoned and enslaved or, if they were lucky, ransomed back to their sover­eign or their family or the company they worked for.

Often enough, however, the victims of these mari­time hijackings would languish in fetid prisons, unsure of when, or even if, they would ever be redeemed. Many perished or simply disappeared in the White Slave trade. The only other escape was conversion. Embracing Islam—“turning Turk”—instantly changed one’s status and prospects. Indeed, from time to time, some of these victims would prove rather able-bodied adventurers and mercenaries, considering their national identity, their religion, and their foreskins a small price to pay as compared with life as a Muslim pirate in North Africa.

We do have a long history with Iislamic piracy. I found the reference to "white slavery" to be interesting, never heard about that during my public school indoctrination.

[jaybet]

also remember that these ships aren't built for war. they are merchant ships. true they should be armed, but as far as tracking down and enforcing etc... we need to send in the folks that are paid and trained to do this. honestly not sure I would want some of our deckies running around with guns, some of these clown were scared out from under a bridge with the promise of beer money... you get the picture.
    these ships are not built to maneuver or for speed.

I agree with you, Deepwater...MMs do their job and shouldn't be expected to fight necessarily. But a handful of mercenaries can do a whole lot of protecting for not a whole lot of money, all things considered.

[deepwater]

But a handful of mercenaries can do a whole lot of protecting for not a whole lot of money, all things considered.

now all we have to do is convince the shipping companies and the insurance companies. (probably the biggest reason we don't carry weapos, liability).