U.S. urges partners to keep fighting against piracy at sea

[Lankan Ranger]

U.S. urges partners to keep fighting against piracy at sea

United States calls in its international partners to step up efforts in the fight against Somali pirates, particularly after a tragic attack on a private yacht with pensioners, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State said.

On the night of February 18, pirates seized the S/V Quest yacht off the coast of Oman. The yacht was en route from India and belonged to U.S. pensioners Gene and Scott Adams, who were on a circumnavigation. Gunshots were fired in the course of the negotiations on the ransom. Bodies of four dead hostages were later discovered on board of the yacht.

"We are shocked and saddened by this loss of life, and we do recognize that other countries have lost citizens in the past year, and past years as well... Other countries need to step up. If your flagged vessel is attacked, you should be prepared to prosecute the pirates as a result.

If your citizens are injured or killed, you should be prepared to prosecute, because it's in your national interest to do so," Philip Crowley said.

Somali pirates have been active off Somalia as the country has had no functioning central government for two decades.

U.S. urges partners to keep fighting against piracy at sea | World | RIA Novosti

 

[Chogy]

This whole issue with the Pirates off Somalia has be totally baffled. They climb into Zodiacs and light craft from a "mothership" and attack gigantic freighters as well as smaller ships. These guys don't have fighters, Exocet missiles, and tactical nukes. They have small arms and RPG's.

Solution - you have a 300 foot freighter traveling through that ocean. Mount, bow and stern, a pair of 25mm Bushmaster cannon, 3 or 4 .50 caliber heavy machine guns, have a dozen trained personnel, and when a rubber boat full of screeching pirates approach, let them have it.

After a handful of encounters like that, piracy problem solved. When you are dealing with so much money, some cannon, MG's, and personnel aren't a bad investment.

 

[Muhammad-Bin-Qasim]

This whole issue with the Pirates off Somalia has be totally baffled. They climb into Zodiacs and light craft from a "mothership" and attack gigantic freighters as well as smaller ships. These guys don't have fighters, Exocet missiles, and tactical nukes. They have small arms and RPG's.

Solution - you have a 300 foot freighter traveling through that ocean. Mount, bow and stern, a pair of 25mm Bushmaster cannon, 3 or 4 .50 caliber heavy machine guns, have a dozen trained personnel, and when a rubber boat full of screeching pirates approach, let them have it.

After a handful of encounters like that, piracy problem solved. When you are dealing with so much money, some cannon, MG's, and personnel aren't a bad investment.

So why has the US not done this until now?? Have you asked this question Chogy?

 

[CardSharp]

This whole issue with the Pirates off Somalia has be totally baffled. They climb into Zodiacs and light craft from a "mothership" and attack gigantic freighters as well as smaller ships. These guys don't have fighters, Exocet missiles, and tactical nukes. They have small arms and RPG's.

Solution - you have a 300 foot freighter traveling through that ocean. Mount, bow and stern, a pair of 25mm Bushmaster cannon, 3 or 4 .50 caliber heavy machine guns, have a dozen trained personnel, and when a rubber boat full of screeching pirates approach, let them have it.

After a handful of encounters like that, piracy problem solved. When you are dealing with so much money, some cannon, MG's, and personnel aren't a bad investment.

Let's not under-estimate what an couple guys armed RPGs on a small boat can do to a giant thin skinned tanker with oil.

 

[JDB99]

This whole issue with the Pirates off Somalia has be totally baffled. They climb into Zodiacs and light craft from a "mothership" and attack gigantic freighters as well as smaller ships. These guys don't have fighters, Exocet missiles, and tactical nukes. They have small arms and RPG's.

Solution - you have a 300 foot freighter traveling through that ocean. Mount, bow and stern, a pair of 25mm Bushmaster cannon, 3 or 4 .50 caliber heavy machine guns, have a dozen trained personnel, and when a rubber boat full of screeching pirates approach, let them have it.

After a handful of encounters like that, piracy problem solved. When you are dealing with so much money, some cannon, MG's, and personnel aren't a bad investment.

It's not that simple. Maritime laws do not allow commercial or civilian ships to be armed, if weapons are found while docked in a foreign port the ship can be seized. Non lethal weapons are permissible like the LRAD. Even with the largest navies patrolling the waters these hijackings will continue, there is to much ground to cover. Perhaps the pirate towns on the Somali coast should be dealt with?

 

[Chogy]

So why has the US not done this until now?? Have you asked this question Chogy?

I have asked this question in many forums. Since I am not a world leader or president, I can do nothing about it.

Maritime laws do not allow commercial or civilian ships to be armed, if weapons are found while docked in a foreign port the ship can be seized.

Then I would be in favor of a change in maritime laws. A handful of fixed weapons like this are no threat to a nation. It's not like the "Star of Ethiopia" or some other old freighter is going to open up while at anchor in some commercial port.

The piracy issue is becoming borderline insane. It'd be funny if it were not for loss of life. Historically, merchant vessels from 1500 to probably 1850 or so all carried cannon of the exact same variety that warships used, solely to defend themselves against pirates. These vessels back then did not ravage the sea lanes... they used their defensive armament to protect themselves. It's like a law-abiding citizen carrying a handgun. These citizens aren't the problem, it's the criminals who are.