Shiver Me Timbers: Somalian Piracy Scourge

EoJ: Agent Keaton

The escalation of african pirates hijacking ships at sea, seems to be getting out of hand. What I don't understand is why they seem to be badly guarded, when this has been happening to smaller ships etc.

Now a U.S ship has been held up, and the pirates have taken the captain hostage, most likely to hold him to ransom for money.

What should be done to take care of this problem? And doesn't paying a ransom only end up financing further piracy etc?

Apreche

The answer to pirates is simple. Navies. Back in the golden age of piracy, pirates could actually stand up to a navy ship. Nowadays there's really nothing a that some pirates in small boats can do if there's a destroyer around. Most of the modern piracy occurs near Somalia and around South East Asia. The US navy and other navies just need to have a larger presence in these areas.

Andrew

There is no modern navy that will waste it's time with Somali pirates. The answer is PMCs (Private Military Companies). Hire a couple of operators and you've got pretty decent protection from the pirates.

Jason

Policing the situation is only addressing a symptom of the disease. If you really want to change the situation, invest in Somali schools, jobs, and sustainable crops. Change the hearts and minds, and you'll change the infrastructure of the country.

Luke Burrage

There is no modern navy that will waste it's time with Somali pirates.

Except, of course, the six or seven different navies that escort ships through those very waters. I was talking to a friend who worked on the Queen Victoria a few weeks ago and they followed some kind of navy ship all the way, a German navy ship, I believe.

I also worked on a cruise ship off the coast of East Africa this year. We had 24 hour pirate watch both from the bridge and the stern. Hoses were set out on deck at strategic point for use as weapons too. The captain kept us updated on other incidents in the area. The fact was that the ship I was on could outrun any pirate vessel. If the pirates did catch up, a few turns at speed would create enough waves to swamp the pirate vessels. Slower cargo ships don't have this option, but I know of no large ship that has kept moving and had trouble with the pirates. It's when a ship stops that the trouble starts. I've not got details about the latest story, but I'd be surprised if the boarding wasn't down to human error on the part of the crew.

Cremlian

Policing the situation is only addressing a symptom of the disease. If you really want to change the situation, invest in Somali schools, jobs, and sustainable crops. Change the hearts and minds, and you'll change the infrastructure of the country.

Good luck with that. Aid can't be disturbed in Somali effectively. There is pretty much not a stable government in Somali and it's controlled by warlords who seize control of any aid you would try and use. The forces in Somali also view any outside agency that moves in to help as a threat on their control. (leading to fun incidences like the battle in Mogadishu where the movie "Blackhawk Down" dramatized the events) Somali suffers from the same problem many other countries in Africa and the middle east have, their boundaries were drawn without "respect" to the tribal groups in the area.

GreatTeacherMacRoss

In a news update, a U.S. destroyer is in the water near the hijacked ship. I expect S.E.A.L. action pretty soon. Versus 4 pirates, I'd say this is going to be wrapped up quickly.

EoJ: Agent Keaton

I hear that that area of Somalia has some muslim extremists around. This could prove tricky, but I'm glad to see something being done about it at last.

Yeah, perhaps PMCs are the answer and I'm surprised this hasn't been done yet. As for Somalia itself, a place like that will always have trouble. Warlords only have their self interest at heart, and to hell with the people. After the Mogadishu thing, I don't see the U.S being keen to repeat it.

Tribalism laced in religon is hard to eliminate. You try to help or not, you are still the enemy and can't win. I say leave them alone, once shipments are being guarded and escorted well, and the captain is saved. They'll get tired of fighting, one day, hopefully.

Andrew

In a news update, a U.S. destroyer is in the water near the hijacked ship. I expect S.E.A.L. action pretty soon. Versus 4 pirates, I'd say this is going to be wrapped up quickly.

CNN is reporting that the captain is being held hostage on the pirates lifeboats. Could be difficult.

Apreche

In a news update, a U.S. destroyer is in the water near the hijacked ship. I expect S.E.A.L. action pretty soon. Versus 4 pirates, I'd say this is going to be wrapped up quickly.

CNN is reporting that the captain is being held hostage on the pirates lifeboats. Could be difficult.

Precisely. If the navy had been there when the pirates were first attacking, it could have just blown them away before they achieved anything. The pirates pretty much know their only possibilities now are jail and/or death, so what reason do they have not to kill the hostage? It would take some sort of Hollywood movie-type amazingness to save him unless the pirates decide to be nice.

Luke Burrage

I think there were some pirates captured by a German frigate last year, and because the pirates weren't attacking German interests they couldn't legally hold the pirates. This time round, with an American hostage, the American navy have the pirates exactly where they want them.

Apreche

I think there were some pirates captured by a German frigate last year, and because the pirates weren't attacking German interests they couldn't legally hold the pirates. This time round, with an American hostage, the American navy have the pirates exactly where they want them.

As I see it, this is a major problem with the laws of the seas. There is a very large group of allied nations, and any of their navies should be able to handle a situation like this for another. If say, a Swedish boat were pirated, I would expect the US navy would do something about it, if it were nearby. The same for the Australian Navy to help out a French boat, etc. Nobody will complain if a friendly country tries to help a boat captured by pirates. If they're worried about taking blame if something goes wrong during the rescuing operation, they can just ask for permission before going in. We have that kind of technology.

Luke Burrage

If say, a Swedish boat were pirated, I would expect the US navy would do something about it, if it were nearby. The same for the Australian Navy to help out a French boat, etc. Nobody will complain if a friendly country tries to help a boat captured by pirates.

I didn't say the different navies DON'T help the vessels of other nationalities. It's just that once the German's captured the pirates they had no authority to hold them. I think they turned them over to Kenyan authorities or something, and from there who knows what happened. Jurisdiction is tricky.

When I was in Mombasa I spotted 30 tanks lined up in the port. They were Russian tanks bound for Sudan via Kenya, but were captured by pirates. Now they're just sitting there, and nobody really knows what to do with them. Kenya and Russia don't want to admit to supplying the tanks to Sudan, so they're saying the tanks were bound for Kenya... but Kenya has never used Russian tanks before. Funnily enough, the taxi drive I spoke to in Mombasa said it was "good piracy" that time, as it turned the world's attention to the problem of international arms dealing by his government. The people of Kenya are pissed off about the whole situation.

Kilarney

I suspect that the cost of protecting against the pirates surpasses the cost of paying ransoms. From what I've read, the pirates are not interesting in hurting anybody. They want ransom money. It looks like it's just a cost of doing business if you send a ship through the area. Since the odds of getting hijacked are still low, it isn't cost effective to hire escorts.

If there was no military action when the MV Faina was hijacked, I don't see any military action for the most recent US ship that was hijacked. The Faina had a cargo of tanks. That was a much more compelling target for military intervention. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.

Adelbert

I wish the pirates knew how operate tanks. Could be awesome.

Nuri

I read somewhere that the Pirates are using RPGs to blow holes into the crew quarters and start fires so that the crew had to stop defending the ship to put out the fires. How about we arm the crew with RPGs (or, as Andrew suggested, use PMCs) and let them hit the pirate's boats before they can board? I suspect if the pirates knew there was a very high chance of dying because their boats got fucking blown up, they might think twice before risking it. That's why they've moved their operation...too risky to operate where they were before. From the sounds of things, one or two people with sufficient training and firepower on board the ship could deter these pirates.

This might be more expensive than paying the ransoms, but it's probably a more effective method of prevention.

Kate Monster

I read somewhere that the Pirates are using RPGs to blow holes into the crew quarters and start fires so that the crew had to stop defending the ship to put out the fires. How about we arm the crew with RPGs (or, as Andrew suggested, use PMCs) and let them hit the pirate's boats before they can board? I suspect if the pirates knew there was a very high chance of dying because their boats got fucking blown up, they might think twice before risking it. That's why they've moved their operation...too risky to operate where they were before. From the sounds of things, one or two people with sufficient training and firepower on board the ship could deter these pirates.

This might be more expensive than paying the ransoms, but it's probably a more effective method of prevention.

QFT.
Moreover, if piracy isn't prevented, more and more pirates may infest these waters and there will just be increasing ransoms.

Kilarney

more and more pirates may infest these waters and there will just be increasing ransoms.

I wonder how pure the market is for piracy? If more pirates enter the waters, there will be more competition and one would suspect that ransoms will go down. Of course the consumer is held captive, literally. So maybe the market isn't so pure.

If there is more piracy, the likelihood of military intervention (private or governmental) will increase.

Apreche

I really think we should pay just one pirate ransom. Much as with spammers, it will result in a huge increase in piracy. The difference is that the pirates will begin to fight each other, and the problem will solve itself.

Kate Monster

I really think we should pay just one pirate ransom. Much as with spammers, it will result in a huge increase in piracy. The difference is that the pirates will begin to fight each other, and the problem will solve itself.

Haven't some companies been paying the ransoms?

EoJ: Agent Keaton

There might be a way out of this. The navy could send in some scuba divers, to swim up under the life raft and puncture it. With a slow leak, everyone will be in the water soon enough, weapons and all. Add the possibilty of sharks, and they'll want to be rescued.

Just a thought.

Perhaps their hijack a U.S ship was their intention all along, because they knew it'd get them enough publicity. Taking the Captain is just dragging it out longer, to annoy the U.S.

Apreche

There might be a way out of this. The navy could send in some scuba divers, to swim up under the life raft and puncture it. With a slow leak, everyone will be in the water soon enough, weapons and all. Add the possibilty of sharks, and they'll want to be rescued.

It's not a raft. These pirates have real boats and real weapons.

gomidog

The hostage died, I heard. This is too bad.

Kate Monster

Scott, they are holding the Sea Captain on a lifeboat.
He died? I haven't heard/see report of that yet, but it may just be coming out now.

I hope he isn't dead.

Apreche

Scott, they are holding the Sea Captain on a lifeboat.
He died? I haven't heard/see report of that yet, but it may just be coming out now.

I hope he isn't dead.

Exactly. A life boat is not a raft.

Kate Monster

Scott, they are holding the Sea Captain on a lifeboat.
He died? I haven't heard/see report of that yet, but it may just be coming out now.
I hope he isn't dead.

Exactly. A life boat is not a raft.

They are certainly easier to take out than an actual ship.

Sir_Xander

I read somewhere that the Pirates are using RPGs to blow holes into the crew quarters and start fires so that the crew had to stop defending the ship to put out the fires. How about we arm the crew with RPGs (or, as Andrew suggested, use PMCs) and let them hit the pirate's boats before they can board? I suspect if the pirates knew there was a very high chance of dying because their boats got fucking blown up, they might think twice before risking it. That's why they've moved their operation...too risky to operate where they were before. From the sounds of things, one or two people with sufficient training and firepower on board the ship could deter these pirates.

This might be more expensive than paying the ransoms, but it's probably a more effective method of prevention.

I must say I agree. If we simply killed anyone who attempted piracy the problem would go away. It might be more expensive in the long run, but piracy would become a non-issue.

Omnutia

I must say I agree. If we simply killed anyone who attempted piracy the problem would go away. It might be more expensive in the long run, but piracy would become a non-issue.

You would be, however, killing people.

Sir_Xander

I must say I agree. If we simply killed anyone who attempted piracy the problem would go away. It might be more expensive in the long run, but piracy would become a non-issue.

You would be, however, killing people.

I fail to see the problem with that. If it becomes too dangerous to be a pirate the problem with piracy on an international level goes away.

EoJ: Agent Keaton

Seems the whole thing is getting out of hand. I heard a German ship had also been hijacked in the same area, not long ago.

Guess they'd better start building freighters with gun turrets and panic rooms, and train crew what to do in these kinds of situation. Maybe they should have these ships, have a armed specialist or two onboard (the sea equivalent of an air marshall), who can deal with and co-ordinate crew better. Its a push over to hijack, because complacency has let it get that way. Once standards are tightened and improved, pirates will think twice about hijacking.

If it worked for the airlines, there's no reason why it shouldn't work for shipping companies too. Otherwise, just rent some PMCs and pay them money instead. You can't always rely on the navy in such a large area.

Kate Monster

I must say I agree. If we simply killed anyone who attempted piracy the problem would go away. It might be more expensive in the long run, but piracy would become a non-issue.

You would be, however, killing people.

If they attack a ship, then the ship should be able to fight back. If the ship's crew can take the pirates alive, then whoopi and hooray. If they cannot take them alive, then they need to defend themselves. I would prefer that no one die, but the crew's lives and well being take precedence.