India destroys Somali pirate ship

So the world has finally figured out how to deal with the Pirate problem. (slow clap).

You know the current anthem of the USMC contains a verse in the chorus about the US attack on Tripoli (a Pirate Nation) and that was in 1803.

I don't mean to sound cynical, but piracy isn't exactly anything new, almost every continent has had a piracy problem at one point or another dating back to ancient Greece. And historically, in almost every case, The most effective way to deal with pirates is to simply blow them out of the water.
 
Well looks like the Indians have joined the French in effective methods for combating this crap, I am still not sure why the more high value cargo's and vessels sailing in this region don't have their own security teams I am somewhat surprised that insurance companies are not insisting on it.
 
MontyB said:
Well looks like the Indians have joined the French in effective methods for combating this crap, I am still not sure why the more high value cargo's and vessels sailing in this region don't have their own security teams I am somewhat surprised that insurance companies are not insisting on it.
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Year ago I remember a report where the British Mechant Navy requested that small arms be allowed on board ships. The Home Office in London refused stating, "In case of pirate attack use the fire hoses."

A buddy of my son is an engineering officer cadet for South Africa's merchant marine, they too are told to use fire hoses.
 
It seems to me that a sizable portion of the ocean is pirate free and "hoses" may do the job in terms of scaring off a buccaneering whale or frisky dolphin but when sailing around in the worlds pirate hot spots carrying a security team is not an unrealistic request and as I say I am a little surprised that insurance companies don't require it in specific areas.

PS. Compared to your average rusty trusty AK47 what is a the accurate range of a fire hose?
 
I was talking to a chap about arming merchant ships with small arms, he didnt think it was acceptable. I then asked him, "Why arent naval ships attacked?" "Because they have guns," he replied. I said "EXACTLY!"

Sometimes I really wonder what planet these people are on.
 
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Yes, our authorities say it would not be acceptable, and it seems crews agree, on the basis of return fire and repercussions in the event of being boarded.

I find this hard to understand; surely it should be dealt with as a military operation harshly imposed to completely eliminate the problem . It also seems that it is an Islamic fundamentalist issue. Sorry, but that's what I am hearing.

Furthermore, I understand that the culprits are not interested in the ship or fuel - only the ransom.
 
Numerous international agreements have made carrying firearms on merchant vessels illegal, I don't know the details off the top of my head, but that's why these merchant vessels are unarmed except for the fire hoses.
 
Damien435 said:
Numerous international agreements have made carrying firearms on merchant vessels illegal, I don't know the details off the top of my head, but that's why these merchant vessels are unarmed except for the fire hoses.
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I have no doubt this is true and chances are the rules were made for good reason at the time however there are clearly areas where protection is required and having destroyers and frigates chasing speed boats with helicopters is a somewhat expensive option compared to a 5 or 6 man security team on the cargo vessels.
 
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Hi,

BBC
The Indian navy has been given formal approval by the United Nations to go after pirate ships in Somali waters,


The UN approval authorises India to go in "hot pursuit" of pirates,
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India is also moving in Destroyer - INS Delhi to the region as well .. Right now we have INS Tabar . which has seen action 3 times in two weeks sinking 1 Pirate ship and last week The warship responded by sending out a helicopter to the area which chased away the pirate vessel. :)
 
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Can India shoot at the pirates if they chased them away? Why let them get away? How many small boat's are there with a bunch of guys with AK's and RPG's following ships? Wouldn't a few burst of a mini gun on a helicopter keep these nasty pirate from repeating the same thing.

Couldn't something over head watch and see where these little boats go to get refueled? Isn't it time for something nasty to happen to them as they replenish their raiding boats? It would show the people on land that it's not nice to be a pirate.

ARG!!!!
 
MontyB said:
I have no doubt this is true and chances are the rules were made for good reason at the time however there are clearly areas where protection is required and having destroyers and frigates chasing speed boats with helicopters is a somewhat expensive option compared to a 5 or 6 man security team on the cargo vessels.
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I saw an article on TV where private security companies in high powered small craft armed to the teeth are escorting ships through the Strait of Malacca, for a price of course. Some crews who were attacked by pirates stated that when the attacks were report to police, they recognised some of the police as the pirates.

Lloyds of London increased premiums by 1% of the cargo value. The increase was dropped after Singapore and Indonesia stepped up air and sea patrols.

Interestingly, since the end of the Cold War piracy has increased dramatically.
 
BritinAfrica said:
I saw an article on TV where private security companies in high powered small craft armed to the teeth are escorting ships through the Strait of Malacca, for a price of course. Some crews who were attacked by pirates stated that when the attacks were report to police, they recognised some of the police as the pirates.

Lloyds of London increased premiums by 1% of the cargo value. The increase was dropped after Singapore and Indonesia stepped up air and sea patrols.

Interestingly, since the end of the Cold War piracy has increased dramatically.
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The last quote I saw said that there were 25 cargo ships under the control of Somali pirates at the moment, quite frankly if accurate that is a phenomenal number and certainly too great to be settled by negotiations I personally think it is time to go Russian on their arses and start taking back these ships regardless of the outcome to the crews or vessels themselves.

Maybe throw in a little Pirates of the Caribbean and start hanging a few in Somali Harbours so they get the point.
 
MontyB said:
The last quote I saw said that there were 25 cargo ships under the control of Somali pirates at the moment, quite frankly if accurate that is a phenomenal number and certainly too great to be settled by negotiations I personally think it is time to go Russian on their arses and start taking back these ships regardless of the outcome to the crews or vessels themselves.

Maybe throw in a little Pirates of the Caribbean and start hanging a few in Somali Harbours so they get the point.
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I couldn't agree more. All this kid glove stuff isn't solving the problem, its increasing it, navies should go in and sort the buggers out once and for all. When the Royal Marines who came under attack recently and fired back, the pirates were quick enough to put their hands in the air. What does this show? They are a cowardly bunch of a:cen:e holes and like criminals everywhere, are cowards at heart.
 
I've read in numerous articles that the pirates are celebrated in Somalia and almost impossible not to find because they are the only well off people in Somali society. So let's start by bombing all the houses in Mogadishu with electricity, a roof, walls without holes, windows with glass and doors with locks on them.
 
Damien435 said:
I've read in numerous articles that the pirates are celebrated in Somalia and almost impossible not to find because they are the only well off people in Somali society. So let's start by bombing all the houses in Mogadishu with electricity, a roof, walls without holes, windows with glass and doors with locks on them.
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Alternatively people could just stop paying the ransoms and where ever found pirate vessels should be sunk on sight, any recovered bodies dumped in the port they started out from.

I think it important to recover any vessels taken by them with force and as soon as possible because as soon as they discover that taking a ship will result in their death and hiding behind hostages will not save them they will eventually realise that it is an unprofitable business.
 
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Which assumes that our people have the stomach for the deaths of hostages that will inevitably happen with such a policy, awfully big assumption.
 
At least any boat filled with armed people that was driven away for one reason or another be deem a safe target right? Couldn't these boats filled with armed pirates be sunk traveling to and from ships, it's not like they could say there fishing with AK and RPG's right?

I still think something nasty should be dropped on them just as they dock. Let the people on land and maybe other pirate see what happens when you rob others.

For starters focus on the pirates before and during failed hostage/ship attempts. This seems to way to take some of them out without the threat of killed hostages?
 
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