Pirates...

Back in the late 80's on a 220' motoryacht we used to run up the Malacca Straits as well as the Phillipenes. We used to stand watchmen armed with a M-16, flaregun and nightvision goggles on the aftdeck. Some nights the Radar was very busy.

At the same time some friends were sailing on the 110' Royal Huisman 'Whirlwind XI' between Somalia and Aden. They got hit by the water-rats, the boat got ripped and the girls messed-up quite bad.

If you sail in those waters, you have all been warned.

Dave

We've had quite a few Egyptian boats taken in that area by Somalian or Eritrean pirates, mostly fishing boats fishing out of Yemen but got too close to Somalian and Eritrean waters.

The reason that I posted this incident when I saw it on the BBC daily news was that I couldn't help but think that someone in that company just doesn't do their homework. I traveled through much of west and central Africa last year. There were no surprises since the riskier areas and situations had all been planned for and in those places that were "dynamic situations" the go/no-go decisions were last minute with updated information. Business travel is one thing, but heading in to known riskier areas on an un-escorted and unprepared pleasure cruise vessel just makes no sense to me.
I hope that the crew all make it out of there in one piece. Genteel hospitality is not high on the list of the current Somalian menu.

Route to the Seychelles

If you want to reach the beautiful Seychelle Islands this is the route from the Med...or you can sail around the tip of Africa

This Somolia is an outlaw country that needs to be put in its place. VERY likely the cruise ship was in international waters when it was boarded by these jerks. Its about time we clean house there.

I had suggested to a few Navy defense contractors that we might take a few of these small unmanned patrol boats and rig them with some explosives. Knowing those dumb asses they'd try to steal something off of these vessels, or get close for a look see....then SURPRISE... no more pirate. Maybe we could put a little fleet of the unmanned vessels out there and paint them menacing colors. I'll bet the rumor mill would work real quickly to let these pirates know they were under surveillance all the time should they venture into international waters.

I just found a portion of one letter I wrote;
I’m sure you have probably considered many potential missions for your SeaOWL product, but I might suggest two more that would be applicable right NOW:
1) Low profile monitoring of the Persian Gulf and the latest Iranian torpedo & missile developments, etc.
2) A concerted effort to get some control over the ‘piracy’ situation off the coast of Yemen, Somalia, and the Malacca Straits. These SeaOWLs could operate in both a defensive monitoring posture, and an offensive one. Why not equip some of these vessels with an explosive charge that could sacrifice itself along with a few pirates who became a little too inquisitive. In time I think the situations would subside substantially if the word of mouth spread about some advanced new ‘on-the-water’ surveillance force was deployed, and that these units possessed deadly force. Certainly a lot cheaper and more efficient than trying to deploy full size Navy ships to do this job.

PS: Can't find the SeaOWL product any more, but try googling "UnManned Marine Vessel (UMV)"

The crew that were held hostage on the 4th are now released from the Le Ponant.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hSdETkBZOSTFMoVyZRxJrUXlHJKw

Hi,

It is great that the seafarers were released unharmed.

Now the Allies should use the boat for target practice.

You saying they should use Le Ponant for target practice??? Why??

Though 'Le Ponant' is not the prettiest girl in the playground, I'm sure KIWI meant the water-rat's boat.....eh right?

Oh...well yes yes I'm a bit thick tonight, sorry.

Hi,

My Bad,

I read that the seafarers were released not the whole ship and crew.

I then read another article that said the ship was underway to Djbouti with a Naval Crew onboard.

I was suggesting that if the ship had been retained by the pirates it would be good target practice

BBC
April 12

French commandoes have carried out a helicopter raid against a group of
Somali pirates soon after they released 30 hostages from a luxury French
yacht.

Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin said troops moved in after the Ponant came ashore,
seized six pirates and probably found part of a ransom paid by its owners.

Local officials said at least three people died in the raid, but France
denied there had been any casualties.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7342292.stm

Yep Kevin, it is all over the internet now.

They've upped the anté and now going after merchant cargo vessels near Somalian waters:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4589384.ece

Hi,

Now that it is out of the bag, as to how much yachts carry around in cash, be ready to here more stories of this.

The amount claimed to have been taken included guest money, valuables and a couple of pieces of artwork.

The amount of cash carried on big yachts these days is a lot less than it was previously as so much of the budgeted spending is done by way of accounts and credit cards.

Hopefully the French will bring enough heat down on these guys to make sure this sort of thing does not become a regular event.

As Corsica is pretty much a law unto itself it remains to see just how effective any investigation into this will be.

This event may also have a benefit for those who provide close protection and security sevices to the yachts/VIP's.

You might be right Pascal. One of the directors of a company I worked for in the 80's went there on holiday. He and his wife had their car stopped by armed men who abducted her and held her hostage - she was then killed when no ransom was paid. The men were never arrested but were part of the Nationalist movement. The Nationalists have to get their money from somewhere and, if they are willing to use violence for other ends, why not use it to fund themselves?

Piracy in the med !

I saw it in the paper, could not believe it !

With so much wealth floating on the seas, unfortunately some guys see some quick money.

Let's hope such crimes will not get popular in the Med since any bandit with a very fast boat can attack & rob a pleasure boat within minutes.