BS: Update on Somali Pirates

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 11:55 AM

One wonders if the Korean incident angered theSomali pirates, who have been known, in past actions to hold their prisoners for extended periods until getting ransoms. Perhaps it is now time to deal with them in a more confrontational way if their patience has shortened and they are going to kill at any provocation.

Meanwhile, one can only have sympathy for the relatives of the murdered
innocents on the yacht.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 10:27 AM

Well, the hostage rescue attempt went very bad. All four American hostages were executed by their captors: click here for story

No doubt there will be some words of wisdom offered by commentators. But right now prayers would seem best for the victims and their families.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 10:49 AM

Not much difference between the Somali pirates and multi-nationals, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Arnie
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 10:46 AM

Well done the S Koreans! I had read that naval forces would only intervene in any hijacking if the crews were locked in a safe room. As the Korean captain was shot in the stomach by a pirate, this suggests that he at least was not in a safe room. Makes it all the more remarkable that the commandos were able to take out so many pirates without any fatalities amongst the crew. And the helicopter crew deserve special mention as they attacked knowing that the pirates were armed with anti-tank missiles that could have blown the heli out of the sky. Lets hope the pirates start to see a bit of sense now and give up this bloody business.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 09:59 AM

Score one for the South Koreans in their successful commando rescue of hostages aboard a freighter captured recently by Somali pirates.

Eight pirates were killed and the rest captured in the daring operation. The captain of the freighter was shot in the stomach but is expected to recover: click here for story

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 05:24 PM

Not bad at all!

It will be interesting to follow this story.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Riginslinger
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 03:25 PM

Do suppose they used a long boat?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:57 PM

Don't fuck with Vikings!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:36 PM

Fantastic, good for the Danes, damned somali scum.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: beardedbruce
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 09:55 AM

Danish forces free ship captured by pirates
         

Katharine Houreld, Associated Press Writer – 57 mins ago

NAIROBI, Kenya – Danish special forces stormed a ship captured by armed Somali pirates Friday and freed the 25 crew on board, an EU naval spokesman said, marking the first time a warship has intervened during a hijacking.

After the vessel Ariella sent out a distress signal early Friday, the Danish warship Absalon sent a helicopter to confirm the presence of pirates, and communicated with the crew to ensure they were in a safe location, said Cmdr. John Harbour, spokesman for the European Union Naval Force.

Then Danish special forces aboard the Absalon approached the Ariella in inflatable dinghies. The forces scaled the side of the ship and freed the 25 crew, who had locked themselves in a secure room, Harbour said. The forces continued to search the vessel for the pirates.

Harbour praised the NATO forces for their fast reaction and coordination with other forces in the area.

"There's been many instances where there's been excellent cooperation and three, four or even five nations have helped deter a pirate attack," he said. But, he added: "This is the first where a warship has been able to send forces to stop a hijacking while it was in progress."

Warships typically do not intervene in hijackings because of the danger that crews may be hit by crossfire. Forces were able to intervene in this case because the ship had registered with naval authorities, was traveling along a recommended transit corridor and was part of a group transit, ensuring the ships had a helicopter within 30 minutes' reaction time, Harbour said.

Denmark rarely releases information on operations carried out by its elite forces, but the storming of the ship may have been carried out by the country's elite Frogman Corps, which were part of a NATO deployment.

"There is an operation going on down there and we're involved. It is still going on right now," Pernielle Kroer, spokeswoman for the Danish Navy told The Associated Press.

The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Ariella sent out a distress signal early Friday that was picked up by the Indian warship Tbar in the Gulf of Aden. The Indians relayed the signal to a French plane overhead, which spotted a group of armed pirates on the deck. Then the Danish troops were notified.

Other EU and American forces have intervened in pirate hostage situations, but not during the hijacking itself.

French commandos stormed a yacht last April with five hostages on board but one, skipper Florent Lemacon, was killed during the operation. American snipers also shot dead three pirates in April 2009 holding an American captain hostage on board a lifeboat after the crew of the Maersk Alabama had persuaded the pirates to leave the main ship.

Details on the nationalities of the crew on board the Arielle and its cargo were not immediately released.

Somali pirates have seized three ships this year and hold a total of nine vessels and more than 180 crew.

Piracy is one of the few ways to make money in Somalia, an arid, impoverished land torn apart by civil war. The government does not hold its own capital and can't send forces to counter the flourishing pirate bases that dot its 1,900-mile (3,100-kilometer)-long coastline.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 08:11 PM

Geeze, there's been a lot more news and no one, including me, has updated this thread.

The latest news is that now the Somali pirates are praying on one another. Is there no honor among pirates? Evidently not. Just as one group of pirates was preparing to get their hard earned $5.5 million ransom for a captured supertanker a rival gang of pirates showed up and tried to rip them off. Well, the original group called in the Navy and the Dutch evidently sent over a helicopter gun ship to chase off the intruders. Here's more details: click here for report!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:00 PM

It's $ for him, the scumbag. And he's a Canuck. Ooooohhh me nerves mezon, mezon.

Dumping on the shore? Yeah. Sure. Smart plan... on the shore. Jaysus!

Idiot times ten.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:50 PM

Gnu-

No. it doesn't make much logical sense to me either, except as an initial motivation. Now everyone is in it for the money.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 03:38 PM

From the link... "Massive western companies would come to Somalia and dump nuclear toxic waste containers on the shore because there was no government controlling the shorelines. So these pirates initially went into the ocean to make them pay for that sort of thing. So they just take everything for ransom. That actually helped us clear our environment."

Idiot.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 11:58 AM

Here's an interesting article on Somali ex-patriot singer K'Naan who believes that the Somali pirates have justification for their piratical activities: Click here for article

His song, "Waving Flag," has been picked as the anthem of 2010 finals in South Africa and he will lead the singing.

Perhaps this will elevate this thread to the musical realm.

Perhaps, not!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 08:12 PM

No, Charley. Not available to ordinary inhabitants of Canada, but those stationed with UN forces in Afghanistan might be able to come up with one.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 08:00 PM

Q-

Well, it evidently was a great deal for some investors (from above link):

Piracy investor Sahra Ibrahim, a 22-year-old divorcee, was lined up with others waiting for her cut of a ransom pay-out after one of the gangs freed a Spanish tuna fishing vessel.

"I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade for the operation," she said, adding that she got the weapon from her ex-husband in alimony.

"I am really happy and lucky. I have made $75,000 in only 38 days since I joined the 'company'."

I don't suppose you have an extra rocket launcher you'd like to invest?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:56 PM

What exchange has the listing for stock in the Somali Pirates enterprise? Current quotation?
I would like to buy shares.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:53 PM

And if you're looking for a high risk/high return investment opportunity for your retirement dollars consider carefully what this website has to offer: Click here at your own risk!

Clearly what is happening in this world is even beyond my cynical imagining.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:49 PM

Well, finally the academics are getting into the game. Here's a link to a financial analysis of what the Somali pirates are achieving: Click here for article!

And evidently there's a game based on this analysis as well.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:29 PM

Bolt your doors in Baltimore, Ireland that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 09:12 PM

Evidently the Somali pirates are roaming further out to sea. They are now reported in the Gulf of India and off the coast of Tanzania: click here!

It won't be long before they're cruising in the Bay of Biscay or even the Gulf of Maine!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 05:07 PM

Good news Charley.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 07:10 PM

Time for another update. The Somali pirates have captured another major cargo ship but another group of them were captured in turn by the Dutch Navy: click here for story

"The Dutch navy captured 13 Somali pirates and seized a haul of weapons off the coast of Oman after the pirates attacked a merchant ship, the Defense Department reported Thursday."

Good for the Dutch!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 04:35 PM

"They put themselves in harms way" as did every oil tanker, fishing boat, cargo boat etc. Fair play to the Yankee boat, giving them a taste of their own medicine did the trick.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 10:01 AM

ard mhacha-

Well, they were captured by pirates and they want their ransom! I suppose if pirates captured some of my friends, I'd also be tempted to call them "scum."

I do hope the Chandlers will be released successfully, whether by ransom, voluntarily by the pirates, or by rescue. It still strikes me as dumb that they put themselves in "harm's way."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 04:26 PM

Mr and Mrs Chandler the British couple who were captured 29 days ago, this film would make you angry, the pirate scum with enough arms to start a war,http://www.channel4.com/news/

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:34 PM

It was the captain of a North Korean vessel. Story was in the Times. Peace pm'd me about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:24 PM

One of the stories mentioned that a captain had died of his wounds. I can't seem to find it now.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:08 PM

Saw a news trailer on BBC that the pirates had killed the captain when they took over a vessel.
Was that incorrect? I have heard no more.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:07 PM

"Horse With No Name" should do it.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 05:40 PM

The use of sonic weapons has been successful. ]
I wonder if they are using Captain and Tenille songs to scare pirates away.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:57 AM

Things are getting tougher for wannabee Somali pirates: Click here for report!

"Guards aboard the Maersk Alabama used guns and a sound blaster Wednesday to repel the second pirate attack in seven months on the U.S. vessel at a time when ships are increasingly hiring armed security teams to thwart hijackings."

The Maersk Alabama, as you may recall, was the same container ship that made headlines when it was captured several months ago, her captain held hostage by the pirates after the crew recaptured the ship and later successfully rescued by a Navy Seal team.

Evidently, there are lessons being learned here with regard to how to successfully defend a ship against pirates. Maybe someone has been monitoring this thread!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 02:07 PM

Here's a link to Q's story about U.S. drone aircraft being deployed against Somali pirates: click here for story

Down along the coast of the Seychelle Isles!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 01:56 PM

Now the unmanned aircraft have entered the fray. Everybody out there run for cover!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 04:53 PM

Ahhhnope, Charley. They would not mess with thaahat thah Maine Coast Gaahd.

Kendall would come out of retirement and **** them up royally, after he has hahd his lobstah.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 04:17 PM

No further word with regard to the Chandlers.

However, the Somali pirates just launched their longest range attack 740 kilometers northeast of the Seychelles Islands: Click here for article!

I'd not be surprised if they start capturing lobster boats in the Gulf of Maine next.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Arnie
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 11:54 AM

Unfortunately events may be about to take a turn for the worse for the Chandlers. Latest reports are that Islamic militants are heading for the area where they're being held with a view to 'liberating' them from the pirates. On past form, the pirates are only interested in a ransom. The militants however want two Western hostages and I don't think they'll be interested in issuing ransom demands.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 01:17 AM

All reports I have read had the couple sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania. Their route was considered to be clear of the pirates area of operations and their vessel not of the type that the "pirates" would be interested in

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 08:09 PM

As McGrath notes, the Suez is the short route for Europeans. The two were on their way to the Seychelles, prime resort islands and a favorite with UK visitors for many years.
Easily reached by air, but yachters and ships have to pass close to the horn of Africa (and Somalia) as they come out of the Red Sea.

I can't see that groups would help, the pirates would just cut one out of the herd. They are heavily armed, the average yachtman is not.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: folk1e
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:20 AM

It's a bit like sailing through Manchester on the canals ...... you do it in groups for safety!
An "expert" suggests that a reduced ransom of a mere £100,000 may suffice!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 08:24 PM

If you are planning to go through the Suez Canal rather than go the long way round, you have to go that way.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 08:09 PM

Well, it does seem dumb to me that such yachting folks as the Chandlers would choose to cruise through this area. I wish them well but what were they thinking? No doubt the pirates will settle for considerably less than £4.3 Million, especially after providing hospitality to this couple for several weeks.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 03:59 PM

Chandlers' kidnap and ransom demand story here

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 03:29 PM

Rachel Chandler worked with people I know. She and her husband put all their money into the boat.   Fingers crossed for a safe return.....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 01:32 PM

Nuke em.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: folk1e
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 12:45 PM

The pirates are demanding £4.3 Million!
Something about this one just doesn't seem right to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: folk1e
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 02:51 PM

BBC news has it that a British couple are the latest victims of the pirates.
Their yacht has been found following a distress call and a spokesman for the pirates has admitted they are holding 2 Brits ...... demands for a ransom are to follow!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 06:20 PM

Don't forget to mention the ravens.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 06:10 PM

I shall quote you on the "Common Language" thread.