Pirates: Part Two

I saw this tidbit from Yahoo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_special_report_pirates

It looks like some companies are hiring private security firms as a means of countering the mounting pirate attacks. What's more interesting is the effort to buy former naval patrol boats to form flotillas of armed escort ships.

Hi,

This isn't new news at all.

The Private Security Boys have been guns for hire for a few years as has the efforts to obtain ex naval vessels to be turned into armed escort vessels.

One company who I did a quick proposal for were looking at acquiring two of these to use for this in 2008.

http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/TheShips/Classes/Flyvefisken_Class(1989).htm

Indians 1; Pirates 0

It's that time of year, again (peanuts and crackerjacks); but this is not a baseball score.

Link will explain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5GPQYJ3ciIg

Hi,

Just came across this article about the smaller yachts in the Arabian Sea and that area and their stories.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13057869

Stories about pirates and the outcomes are not to be taken lightly. There have been some bad outcomes in the past years. People who enjoy boating should not have to be stressed thinking about pirates overtaking their boat. It is like being kidnapped and or killed in your own home. As a boat is almost an extension or even considered for some their home.

On a boat you weigh risks and act accordingly. Whether by land or sea, there are some things you don't do and some places you don't go. When you do, your stress level tells you to keep thinking about this decision.

Dockwise may de-register with Dutch government

Quote: Despite several appeals, private protection onboard Dutch vessels could meet with legal impediments. Other nations do allow for such added protection measures. Dockwise eventually may be forced to have its vessels sail under a different flag if restrictions are not eased imminently.


What a blunder for the Dutch government this would be... Here's the article

New Twist

Now here a new and interesting twist in the game, BIG JAIL TIME FOR PAYING RANSOMS: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43454706/ns/world_news-africa/

It sounds like more Somalis looking for their share of the loot except they are holding their hostages in jail.


I really don't pay much attention to the piracy off Somalia anymore. We know how to end it but don't have the stones to do it. Destroy their bases and the infrastructure that surrounds them and piracy stops. We know where the bases are and who supports them it's simply a matter of will to act. We've known this for hundreds of years.

There is a joke going about that NATO stands for

Like to catch fish and set em free again

Hi,

The Stiff Upper Lip Brigade are discussing it at last.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14060044

Gee, could it have something to do with the jailing of those who pay ransoms or that the world is realizing that this whole piracy/ransom/high premium thing is just a profit making scheme by the insurance companies? They authorized UK troops on board, but didn't fund them? I'd laugh if it weren't so serious for the victims. ****ed if I'd ask anyone's permission or care a hoot about the legal consequences of putting armed security on these ships and yachts in those waters. Very long overdue.

So now after 'donating' millions of dollars (including the 5 million ransom money confiscated from couriers by the Somali authorities) the UN is appealing the world to donate more:

Quote:"Antonio Guterres, the head of UNHCR who visited Dadaab on Sunday, appealed to the world to supply the "massive support" needed by thousands of refugees showing up at this camp every week." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/10/somalia-drought-worst-humanitarian-crisis-_n_894072.html

What an incredible mess!

If only there were a chance for the donations to get to those in need, but that will never happen. Let them get it from the pirates.

I was having a chat with one of my customers today who is a member on YF, Piers, of Du Pre Marine.

His company are now agents for SeaLase, an onboard laser system for large yachts. The laser is so powerful it will make you puke and feel really unwell from quite a way off. Perfect against pirates and paperazzi alike.

http://www.lasersec-systems.com/applications.php?parent=3

So these guys figure it is alright to shoot a laser strong enough to make someone physically ill for what, for recording some of the light reflected off their boat?

Didn't that used to be a felony called assault and battery?

For decades the Somalian waters, once rich with sealife, had been used for illegal fishing with illegal technologies (IUU) which are banned in the rest of the world. Nowadays are used for dumping toxic waste (nuclear, chemical and medical) by huge corporations which prefer to pay just a fragment of the price that they wuold pay to a registered company for toxic waste disposal. After the famous tsunami, thousands of rusted barrels were washed on Somalian shore! 40% of Somalies have cancer. There is no fish in the water anymore to sustain the coastal population as before. They were complaining to the international comunity for years but EU and others did NOTHING! What they did was to use the taxpayers money to send there navy vessels to protect the REAL PIRATES!!!

The video is in Spanish, but there are more on the net in English

http://vimeo.com/18915020

The Somalies are now experiencing a famine. Unfortunately, except for those "real pirates" to whom you refer, the rest of the world has nothing to give beyond their own needs. Were it not for the piracy and a few other notable actions and incidents the world may care more. We all know though, that any aid given there will never reach those in need.

Have a look here; http://www.unicef.org

An absolutely heartbreaking situation. If only those supplies would get to the children. Unfortunately it's sure to feed the malitias and pirates first, and possibly only. What's left will probably be sold for guns, and the children will continue to starve.