Posted: 4/4/2008 9:32:26 AM EDT
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"PARIS — Pirates seized control of a French cruise ship Friday off the coast of Somalia, France's Foreign Ministry said." I know, I know... Pirates in 2008? And yes, the white flag probably went up pretty quickly... But who the hell takes a cruise around Somalia??? 
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Bill Clinton. |
| Piracy has never gone away. Usually they just go after smaller boats. The rich guy in his private yacht, sometimes freight carriers. But this is like the third one I've heard of targeting a cruise ship. I think it was about 2 years ago some pirate tried to board a cruise ship, but the crew was able to use some high pressure water cannons to keep them from getting close. |
First off, Modern pirates have been a growing problem in the south pacific and off the coasts of africa for more then a decade now. I remember reading about the growing problem back in '98 and '99. They manifest more as coastal pirates operating in smaller boats, close to land. The days of the large pirate ships taking prey on the open seas died long ago and will not return unless the world goes to shit in its entirety. They most often hit at night in multiple small craft, and come up from the rear in the ships biggest blind spot. They board the ship and take full control at gunpoint. Often they simply go for the ships valuable locker and leave, but they have been known to kill the crew and take the entire ship and it's cargo (most notably in the south pacific). It has been rumored that some of the pirates are condoned by the Chinese. It has also been rumored that the crews that take full vessels steam them to chines ports, sell off the cargo and the ship, which is then renamed, re-papered, and placed under a different flag. Keep in mind, these are still relitivly small ships, not things like oil tankers and the like. Another favorite target has been luxury yachts, most notably near australia. There has been much cussing and discussing of security options for ships that must travel through pirate infested waters, with the general consensus being that no civilian ship can have armed personell aboard in accordance with the international laws of the sea. This puts the waterways of the world in much the same predicament as the average citizen in a state that does not allow for legal concealed carry. There will never be a cop around when you need one, and you are left unable to protect yourself. Coorespondingly, there will never be enough military vessels to protect all the shipping lanes, and they want the civilian vessels left defenseless. There have been a few notible day time attacks, most notibly off the east coast of africa where the Somali pirates, all fucked up on Khat, don't seem to give two shits about stealth and they believe that a few guns and RPG's will do the trick (apparently it did with the french... ) . Not too terribly long ago they tried to take on a cruise ship and fired several RPG rounds into the side but the ship refused to give up and made it out ok, and most recently, a US Navy ship mixed it up with some pirates much to the dismay of, and fatally to, the pirates.Unfortunatly, it's growing worse and spreading, especially around third world shithole type countries with large coastlines that happen to be right next to major shipping lanes and channels. I wouldn't be too suprised to see it flare up in the carribean again, but I think that it would be too close for the USs' comfort and would be delt with swiftly and harshly. Edited to add: There have been literally thousands of pirate attacks in the past 10 years, nearly all of which are not reported in the main stream media. Just because we don't hear about it every day, dosn't mean it's not happening. And the problem is only gettin worse. |
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I've heard of problems in the Don't know if it's true, and I ain't inclined to find out first-hand. Anywya, on-topic...yeah Somalia and some other African country is kinda big on the tourist radar, particularly those from Europe. Dunno why, maybe they're reliving the colonial days? |
Actually it was a sonic projector. Very nasty from what they say. 2005 attack |
It's not uncommon.. Unfortunately. Rich cruise liners.. limited guns onboard. Perfect target. I remember a while back there was a cruiseliner that was attacked. The captain of the ship high tailed it out of there even though they were firing grenade lauchers at them. I think that's pretty common tactic.. but what do I know.
Umm.. the ship returned by itself? Man they need to get a new editor, or the pirates need a better captain. About the sonic weapon.. very cool. Saw a show on that device. |
Thanks! That's the one I was thinking of. I knew they'd done more than just run but forgot about the sonic weapon. |
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I read this book: Dangerous Waters: Modern Pirates And learned that piracy is alive and well on the high seas. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic, or "shipboard security(?)". |
Don't forget the Philipines and SE asia. |
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It happened in 2002. . . with USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193). Link
Yeah, it looks just like the Carnival Elation.  Onboard USNS Walter S. Diehl:  ON THE LOOKOUT — U.S. Navy Seaman Matthew Ramer looks through binoculars for small boats while crossing the Strait of Hormuz aboard USNS Walter S. Diehl, May 5, 2005. Ramer is a master at arms assigned to Mobile Security Detachment 24, aboard the Diehl, which is currently in the Arabian Gulf conducting refueling operations with the fleet in support of anti-terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa region. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Ansarov |
Chief to GM3 on .50 cal mount: "Don't stop firing until you run out of ammo". Chief to SN on deck: "Get some more ammo before he runs out". |
Yeah, but in most likelihood, replace the rates with the equivalent CIVMAR rates. |
Reading comprehension is fundamental...... 
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Didn't say where in the South pacific. 
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Thankyou Mr smarty pants......  I think I'm going to go trash a Starbucks now.
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 Leave Starbucks alone!Kids today. 
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Well, one down 1 million to go.... Dude, I am so much older than you! 
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