Pirate hijackings

[wvjules]

I know they've happened before but why in the past month or so have we been hearing more about them than ever before? Are they happening more often or are we just hearing more about them now?

 

[mikehn]

I think this is the first time they've hijacked an american vessel.

 

[shirleyb]

This the first American vessel. There've been hijackings going on in that area for quite sometime.

My DS is serving aboard the USS Bainbridge. It's his first assignment. We're anxious to talk to him about the situation.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I think this is the first time they've hijacked an american vessel.

Precisely.

I've been hearing about them for the past couple of years. They've been on the rise for quite a while now.
But most American's won't take notice of anything until we are hit. That's why you haven't heard about them until now.

 

[breezy1077]

I'm sorry, I am unable to answer that question

 

[wvjules]

I would agree with youu about there being more coverage b/c it was an American ship but I recall hearing more about them before that. But not for a long time before that, only a few months or so.

 

[yeartolate]

Precisely.

I've been hearing about them for the past couple of years. They've been on the rise for quite a while now.
But most American's won't take notice of anything until we are hit. That's why you haven't heard about them until now.

No excuses for the terrorism...but, my understanding is that there has been so much illegal fishing and dumping of toxic waste off their coast that the fisherman can no longer feed their families and make a living. This apparently has been going on for years.


http://illegal-fishing.info/item_single.php?item=news&item_id=145&approach_id=13

 

[Deb in IA]

OK, so I get that these big, slow freighters are easily overrun by the smaller, faster boats the pirates have.

But why do the cargo ships not defend themselves? Don't they have the ability to shoot the pirates before the board the ships?

 

[officer tigger]

Two years ago I picked up a book to read for our week at the beach. It was all about the piracy going on in this part of the world. It's been going on for a long time and it's about time someone has decided to make it news worthy.

 

[RachelEllen]

For some reason, my husband has always been aware and very attuned to the problem. He hates anything cute having to do with pirates and would never let our kids have pirate toys.

 

[FireDancer]

Haven't these Somali people heard of the Internet? You can pirate all you want and not get shot by Navy SEALs

There was a big uproar at end of last year when the French sent a destroyer (or the French Naval equivalent). I think we should turn this into a fun little drill with our subs...see a pirate ship and sink it. Eventually the cost of raiding the ships will be too high and it will stop.

 

[DawnCt1]

OK, so I get that these big, slow freighters are easily overrun by the smaller, faster boats the pirates have.

But why do the cargo ships not defend themselves? Don't they have the ability to shoot the pirates before the board the ships?

Apparently its against some maritime laws or at least customs laws. They would have to declare the weapons at every port, have the ship searched, and in some of those ports, the weapons would be confiscated, which wouldn't do them much good. Also some insurers won't insure an armed crew. I think that the original maritime laws prohibiting arms came about to discourage mutiny.

 

[wvjules]

Apparently its against some maritime laws or at least customs laws. They would have to declare the weapons at every port, have the ship searched, and in some of those ports, the weapons would be confiscated, which wouldn't do them much good. Also some insurers won't insure an armed crew. I think that the original maritime laws prohibiting arms came about to discourage mutiny.

At some point though it would seem cheaper to insure armed crews than it would be to pay out the money for the lost cargo.

 

[Deb in IA]

At some point though it would seem cheaper to insure armed crews than it would be to pay out the money for the lost cargo.

Or, as some have suggested, hiring private, gun-toting security.

 

[DawnCt1]

At some point though it would seem cheaper to insure armed crews than it would be to pay out the money for the lost cargo.

ITA, I think we have totally reached that point.

 

[nuttypretzel]

Check out the map here:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?op...controller=visualization.googlemap&Itemid=219

The problem has gone on for quite a while. The difference is that now the pirates are well armed and want to ransom the ship and crew. Before they were happy just to steal the ships stores.

 

[DawnCt1]

The Prime Minister of Somalia congratulated the USA on the rescue of the captain. That may be an entre to a coalition of the willing, (whoever they could be) to route out the wasps' nest of pirates and clean out the ports that they are operating from. We know where they are. Swatting a few of them will not be effective.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Welll. . .while I would support the elimination of the pirates who tried to steal food supplies. . .should we go after the pirates who are trying to keep overfishing on the part of Westerners from occurring? Should we go after the pirates who are trying to keep ships from dumping radioactive hospital waste from Europe into their waters?

I'm no fan of certain unnamed environmental groups that sometimes use harrassment and illegal acts to achieve their goals, but I do support some conservationist groups. . .who might have had a few members do things under cover of darkness to gill nets back in the 1980's and 1990's and I cheered when I heard about THAT so for me to condemn every Somali pirate enmasse would be a tad bit hypocritical.

 

[DawnCt1]

Welll. . .while I would support the elimination of the pirates who tried to steal food supplies. . .should we go after the pirates who are trying to keep overfishing on the part of Westerners from occurring? Should we go after the pirates who are trying to keep ships from dumping radioactive hospital waste from Europe into their waters?

I'm no fan of certain unnamed environmental groups that sometimes use harrassment and illegal acts to achieve their goals, but I do support some conservationist groups. . .who might have had a few members do things under cover of darkness to gill nets back in the 1980's and 1990's and I cheered when I heard about THAT so for me to condemn every Somali pirate enmasse would be a tad bit hypocritical.

We know that's their motivation because they tell us so? How then does that explain the over 260 hostages and at least 14 ships that they are holding now, and for money no less? Piracy is piracy and there is no justification for it.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Welll. . .while I would support the elimination of the pirates who tried to steal food supplies. . .should we go after the pirates who are trying to keep overfishing on the part of Westerners from occurring? Should we go after the pirates who are trying to keep ships from dumping radioactive hospital waste from Europe into their waters?

I'm no fan of certain unnamed environmental groups that sometimes use harrassment and illegal acts to achieve their goals, but I do support some conservationist groups. . .who might have had a few members do things under cover of darkness to gill nets back in the 1980's and 1990's and I cheered when I heard about THAT so for me to condemn every Somali pirate enmasse would be a tad bit hypocritical.

I saw the claim that pirates are just trying to protect their environment this morning. I haven't had such a good laugh in a long time.