The Alabama chief engineer tells a different pirate tale

[Fatman]

Why are our ships and crew unarmed and defenseless against these hoodlums? It is criminal, screw international law!!

Because the gun control nuts reach into everything. Apparently insurance for a ship with an armed crew is much more expensive than for a unarmed one, and some ports won't allow a ship with an armed crew to berth.

To both those situations, I say,"concealed is concealed."  I figure if you wipe out a pirate crew, who's going to report them missing?

[twyacht]

Thanks deepwater, They shut the ship off in short order, not an easy task by any means, from my end on the service side, I have to regularly deal with the "nuts & bolts" hands on Chief Engineers, 2nd, and sometimes 3rd.

They have their heads on straight, and know the ship better than any Capt. Her "perks" so to speak. When she's having a good day or bad.

I really appreciate your being the "pro" and giving us the skinny. I certainly was not questioning what the crew did by any means. None of us were there, and to armchair quarterback is not IMHO the right thing to do.

I still think having at least 1 or 3 .45's in a locked compartment, "in case of emergency" with firearms training for the crew, can make a world of difference. If transporting dangerous or volatile cargo, maybe Glaser rds, frangible, 12g bean bags? something?

If the PC world won;t let us bolt 50's to the deck, maybe a couple Rem. Marine Magnums and .45's, with a trained crew, can stop this crap.

Thanks again

Tom W.

[deepwater]

twyacht, thanks, I'm certainly glad we can discuss just about any subject in the world on this forum and find that somebody has first hand knowledge of the subject or issue at had. as i said, other peoples opinions are just like mine, they're still opinions, but a fresh look at a subject can be an eye opener as well. I know you have experience on large yachts etc so I hope I don't sound like a dick when I chime in and comment.

deepwater