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Thagarr's Pirate News!

<!--quoteo(post=321811:date=May 22 2009, 03:43 PM:name=PeterWillemoes)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PeterWillemoes @ May 22 2009, 03:43 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=321811"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That jurisdiction is about to become a huge problem.
I am not sure, punishing the pirates by granting them western prison-time (1st class hotel to them) is a solution. Also, they are only minor players in a bigger game. At the other hand, disarming and releasing the pirates wont solve anything at all.

The old ways seem to work here. Dead guys hanging on a stick at least used to scare MOST people from becoming pirates <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yup, I agree 100% Peter! So far, France has been about the only country even willing to put up any real fight against these bastards. The fact is, if even one country stood up and did what needs to be done, the UN would be all over them. The UN is a useless organization full of bleeding hearts and corrupt politicians, they are more interested in protecting these thugs "human rights" and finding out what is "motivating" them to take up piracy, than they are about actually doing anything to stop the problem. The simple fact is, they are criminals and murderers and terrorists, they are motivated by the same thing that has motivated men from the start. Greed. As long as shipping companies are willing to pay off these criminals, piracy will be alive and well.
 
That's part of the problem as well. These shippers are willing to pay the ransoms, because its a fraction of what they will make on the cargo anyway. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
 
Damn Thargarr you almost scared me there, hope your heart is up to that bloodpressure <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Due to Sovjet constant doing veto on everything progress during the cold war, I ended up concluding on how international politics..just isnt.

As the (what do you say.."third-largest?") shipcommerce nations in the world, we currently have two ships down there. You´ll probably say "baah, two frigates, what can they do for the 20-30 bulkcarriers you have down there every day?" and you´re probably right - two ships alone wont do it! That sea is very big and its great to read, that other nations are present and how they help eachother out. But I think we all hesitate in taking actions against the pirates, because it means we´ll have to deal with them - you have to remember, that pratically no nation has a law on piracy anymore. UN should represent an international way of dealing with these bastards, making a solution for all. Not banging helmets on the soldiers, doing their jobs.

Its still every man for himself and nobody wants the moose. As long as the superpowers does not reckognize and backup the UN instance, this wont change.
 
I tend to get a bit fired up about the UN Peter! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

Here is a perfect example ...the pirate version of catch and release yet again...

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>
HMCS Winnipeg thwarts pirate attack</b>
Last Updated: Sunday, May 24, 2009 | 1:43 PM ET
CBC News

For the second time in recent days, a Canadian warship has intervened to protect ships in the Gulf of Aden from pirates.

A Sea King helicopter from HMCS Winnipeg chased two suspected pirate boats, which split up and sped away after the men on board spotted the aircraft.

Both the helicopter and warship caught up to one of the boats, about 80 kilometres off the coast of Yemen.

A boarding party seized several weapons from the boat, including AK-47 assault rifles, ammunition, an M-16 rifle and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with two warheads, said Cmdr. Craig Baines, captain of HMCS Winnipeg.

The three-member crew of the skiff had dumped a large aluminum ladder overboard, which was recovered.

"That kind of ladder would typically be placed alongside a merchant vessel in these waters where so many merchant vessels have been hijacked," the CBC's David Common reported from aboard the Canadian navy patrol frigate.

The ship stopped the second skiff less than an hour later and found several more weapons, many of them tucked under the engine.

In total, six suspected Somalian pirates were questioned, relieved of their weapons and released.

Under international law, the Canadian sailors were not able to hand them over to authorities on shore for prosecution because they were not actually hijacking any vessel.

Last Friday, HMCS Winnipeg, which is part of an international fleet of warships that protect merchant vessels navigating the busy shipping route, intervened to protect two ships threatened by pirates off the coast of Somalia.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story and a couple of pics here :
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/24/pirates-hmcs-winnipeg.html" target="_blank">http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/24/p...s-winnipeg.html</a>
 
An interesting article from the BBC on where all that pirate booty is going...

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>
Chasing the Somali piracy money trail</b>

By Mary Harper
BBC News

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has made many people very rich.

A new economy has developed both within Somalia and further afield, as security companies, lawyers and negotiators reap huge profits from their involvement.

But finding out what happens to the money delivered as ransom payments is doubly difficult, first because piracy is a transnational crime, and second because Somalia is a country without rules, regulations or a functioning government.

There have been various reports that piracy in Somalia is attracting big-time criminals from all over the world; that it is being orchestrated from London; that the ship owners themselves are involved.

See map of how piracy is affecting the region and countries around the world

But little evidence has been provided to back up these claims.

It has also been reported that much of the estimated $80m (£50m) paid out in ransoms so far this year has been laundered by organised syndicates in Dubai and other Gulf states.

But this has been strenuously denied by officials in the Gulf, and people working in maritime intelligence say they have no real proof that the money laundering or any other large scale international crime is happening.

"There's been a lot of inventive reporting on very slim evidence," says Christopher Ledger, chairman of the maritime security company Idarat.

"What happens to the money is exceedingly opaque, partly because of the way Somalis communicate with each other, and also because of the impenetrable way their finance system works."

Established security experts have also suggested that some of those cashing in on the new growth industry of Somali piracy are exaggerating its international criminal dimensions in order to drum up business for themselves.

The experts say that with a decreasing demand for private security and intelligence in places like Iraq, some companies and newly-formed "piracy consultants" are trying to sell Somalia as the new frontier for their operations, basing much of their information on speculation rather than fact.

In a sense, Somalis do not need to launder the money they make from piracy because their unique financial system operates on trust and honour, bypassing banks and other financial institutions.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Rest of the story here :
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8061535.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8061535.stm</a>
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Swedish warship captures pirates in Gulf of Aden</b>
Tue May 26, 2009 7:19am EDT

STOCKHOLM, May 26 (Reuters) - A Swedish warship captured seven pirates after they tried to attack a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, Swedish armed forces said. The Swedish ship fired warning shots using cannon, machine guns and sniper fire to force the pirates to abort the attempted hijacking, the Swedish military said in a statement.

The Swedish corvettes HMS Malmo and HMS Stockholm, which are part of international efforts to fight piracy in the gulf, were ordered to help the cargo ship M/V Antonis after it radioed it was under attack early on Tuesday.

The Gulf of Aden lies off the Horn of Africa north of Somalia and south of Yemen.

A party from the HMS Malmo bordered a fishing vessel used in the attack and seized seven pirates and two guns as well as a GPS navigator, the military said.

No injuries were reported.

Somali pirate activity has continued in recent weeks despite the deployment of warships seeking to deter armed groups marauding in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLQ614203" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLQ614203</a>
 
The only other article I could find about it Old Salt, said the were "detained" ...whatever the hell that means!

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Swedish navy heads off hijacking near Somalia</b>
Africa News

May 26, 2009, 9:57 GMT

Stockholm - The Swedish Navy detained seven pirates in the Gulf of Aden, foiling an attempted hijacking of a freighter early Tuesday.

The Swedish HMS Malmo responded to a call for assistance from the Antonis and averted the attack, according to a statement issued by the Swedish Armed Forces.

The Swedish vessel fired warning shots and detained the seven pirates and seized two pistols, a GPS navigator and a ladder on board the pirate's boat.

Sweden on May 15 deployed two corvettes and a supply vessel as part of a joint European Union operation to escort ships carrying food and other supplies for the World Food Programme (WFP).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1479495.php/Swedish_navy_heads_off_hijacking_near_Somalia_" target="_blank">http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/afr...g_near_Somalia_</a>
 
More Aussies on the way ....

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Australia to send warship to combat Somali pirates</b>
Thu May 28, 2009 10:06pm EDT

CANBERRA, May 29 (Reuters) - An Australian warship will join international efforts to combat pirates operating from Somalia, the government said in Friday.

Australia will send a frigate and maritime patrol aircraft currently on Persian Gulf security duties to join anti-piracy operations in and near the Gulf of Aden, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said in a statement.

"The contribution will help to curb piracy in the region, protect Australian and international maritime trade and underline our commitment to targeted increased engagement with Africa," Fitzgibbon said.

Somali pirates have in recent months seized several cargo ships and collected millions of dollars in ransom for the safe release of crew and cargo.

In 2008 there were 111 pirate attacks in the region, with 42 successful hijackings. This year, around 100 attacks have been registered, including more than 25 successful hijackings, Fitzgibbon said.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSSYD452604" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSSYD452604</a>

And this ...
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Indian navy says it foiled Somali pirate attack</b>

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian navy said Friday it thwarted a pirate attack on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.

An Indian warship patrolling the seas near the lawless African country responded to a distress call Thursday from the Liberian-registered merchant vessel MV Maud, which said eight armed people on a skiff were approaching it at high speed, the navy said.

The ship and a helicopter with marine commandos made their way toward the ship, where they saw two people attempting to board it, the navy said in a statement.

"The visibility being low, it was possible that the pirates may not have sighted the warship and the helicopter. The helicopter had to, therefore, resort to firing warning shots to deter the pirates from boarding the ship," the statement said.

The navy said the attackers fell into the water, but their fate was unclear. No injuries were reported among the crews of either ship. The statement gave no further information about the attackers.

The Gulf of Aden is one of the world's most important shipping lanes, crossed by 20,000 ships a year, and a prime target for Somali pirates.

The Indian warship was in the area escorting several merchant ships as part of anti-piracy surveillance in the area.

Last November, India's navy drew criticism after sinking a Thai fishing trawler that had been commandeered hours earlier by pirates. The navy defended its action, saying it had fired in self-defense.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i2Wcx904XifdRiuml5lCcLCezeXAD98FV6681" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...CezeXAD98FV6681</a>
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>U.S. Navy Probes $30G Missing From Maersk Pirate Rescue</b>

The United States Navy is investigating how thousands of dollars disappeared during the rescue of American ship captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates, UPI reported.

The pirates reportedly forced Phillips to take $30,000 in cash from the Maersk Alabama safe during the April siege. The sole surviving pirate suspect, Abduwali Muse, allegedly distributed the money to his three accomplices, according to the report.

After the rescue, during which three of the pirates were killed and Muse captured, the money was not among the items listed as having been recovered by Navy SEALs.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is now questioning military personnel who had a hand in the Alabama rescue operation in the Gulf of Aden to try and track down the money, the report quotes an unnamed Pentagon source.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524321,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524321,00.html</a>
 
Arrrr, Thagarr, dat cash be soundin' like de spoils o' war! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pirate3.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p2" border="0" alt="pirate3.gif" />
 
Aye Fred Bob! It seems a bit silly to me that these shipping companies are willing to pay millions in ransom, but squawk about a mere few thousand dollars.

The Royal Navy confiscates more "fishing gear"...

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>
Warship stops pirate boat in Gulf</b>


Devonport-based warship HMS Portland has intercepted two suspected pirate boats in the Gulf of Aden.

The two boats were equipped with extra fuel, grappling hooks, rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and ammunition.

Ten people on board them were released "due to insufficient evidence to directly link the group to a specific attack", the Ministry of Defence said.

HMS Portland is part of a multi-national anti-piracy operation in the Gulf off the east coast of Africa.

Cmdr Tim Lowe, Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), said: "This is an excellent example of international co-ordination.

"This international collaboration cannot be understated and as more countries join the fight, we will continue to work together to help deter, disrupt and thwart criminal acts of piracy in the maritime environment."

Portland's boarding team of Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel, were supported by a Lynx helicopter, equipped with a machine gun and snipers in the operation off the coast of Somalia.

HMS Portland destroyed one of the boats and confiscated all their weapons.

The CMF said that since August 2008, its forces had intercepted 27 pirate vessels, seized 190 small arms and 39 rocket-propelled grenades.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here:
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8081060.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8081060.stm</a>
 
Harr! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> Dem fellers prolly had dem an official fishin' license from Akbar the warlord! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh" border="0" alt="huh.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=325116:date=Jun 4 2009, 08:22 AM:name=Fred Bob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fred Bob @ Jun 4 2009, 08:22 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=325116"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Harr! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> Dem fellers prolly had dem an official fishin' license from Akbar the warlord! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh" border="0" alt="huh.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/24.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rofl" border="0" alt="24.gif" />


<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Somali pirates attack Slovenian ship but fail to seize it</b>
South Asia News

Jun 4, 2009, 14:47 GMT

Ljubljana - Somali pirates on Thursday attacked the Slovenian ship Postojna in the Gulf of Aden and but were thwarted thanks to the intervention of an Indian naval ship, Slovenian media reported.

The Slovenian media portal RTVSLO quoted Slovenian navy official Egon Bandelj as saying the ship was attacked and no one was injured.

The pirates tried to seize the ship with three speedboats but sped away after an intervention of the Indian warship which was following the convoy of ships, including Postojna. The Indian ship fired several warning shots.

A 183-metre-long Postojna was on its way from South Korea to Saudi Arabia when the pirate attack occurred, the reports said.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1481429.php/Somali_pirates_attack_Slovenian_ship_but_fail_to_seize_it_" target="_blank">http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/sou...il_to_seize_it_</a>
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Somali pirates free Nigerian tugboat</b>

NAIROBI (AFP) — Somali pirates have freed a Nigerian tugboat captured around 10 months ago, putting an end to the longest such hijacking off the coast of Somalia, a maritime watchdog said Saturday.

"Yenegoa Ocean is free," said Andrew Mwangura, who heads the Nairobi-based East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

The ship -- owned by Nigerian ESL Integrated Services -- and its 11-man Nigerian crew were captured in the Gulf of Aden on August 4, 2008, on its way back from Singapore where it had undergone repairs.

According to a Dutch defence ministry statement, the boat was freed at 1800 GMT on Friday and is being escorted by the Dutch frigate De Zeven Provincien towards Yemen.

"De Zeven Provincien is currently escorting the Yenegoa Ocean after a hijacking by Somali pirates that lasted 10 months," the statement said, adding the navy ship was instructed last night to head for the released tugboat.

"At around 5:30 am local time (0230 GMT), the (Dutch) unit secured the Yenegoa Ocean. De Zeven Provincien is providing logistical and medical assistance to the crew and is escorting the ship to safety," it said.

Foreign ships hijacked by Somali pirates have rarely been held longer than four or five months in the worst cases, but the Yenegoa Ocean had remained in limbo for months, with talks for its release seemingly at a standstill.

Negotiations intensified in recent weeks, notably with the involvement of a Somali advocacy organisation based in Minnesota and also the captain's family.

A ransom is believed to have been paid, although its amount was not immediately known.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original story here :
<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5igDoK0wWTvbwKByDaBIAVag88JoQ" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...ByDaBIAVag88JoQ</a>
 
Video from the HMS Portland's "catch and release"

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->British Marines from HMS Portland captured suspected pirates off the Somali coast. The ship then used its heavy machine guns to blow the pirate boat out of the water.{Skynews}<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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<div style="background:#cccccc;border:1px dotted #000;border-bottom:0;border-left:4px solid #cccccc;color:#000;font-weight:bold;font-size:10px;margin: 8px auto 0 auto;padding:3px;"> Youtube Video ->
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4nkQsDd0ts">Original Video</a>
</div>
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<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l4nkQsDd0ts"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l4nkQsDd0ts" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
</div>
</div>
 
Cool. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbs1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":2up" border="0" alt="thumbs1.gif" />
 
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="onya.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Companies hire "shipriders" against Somali pirates</b>

By KATHARINE HOURELD

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — There's not a warship for miles, a small pirate skiff is speeding toward you and there's no way the creaking tub you're on can outrun the bandits. How long do you wait before you shoot?

It's just one of many possible dilemmas facing an increasing number of private security companies who offer armed escorts — known in the industry as "shipriders" — from Somali pirates.

The few companies that have begun offering armed escorts say their services have become increasingly popular since the April hijacking of the American-flagged Maersk Alabama, particularly among U.S. shipowners. One company — Hart Security UK — has reported a fourfold increase in escorted trips since it began offering them in October.

But legal problems abound for ships that carry guns.

The first hurdle is making sure the countries where ships embark and disembark the weapons will allow them to do so — a legal nightmare in corrupt Middle Eastern ports with terrorism problems.

Then there's the issue of which law applies onboard the ship if a weapon is discharged: the shooter's nationality, the law of the country whose flag the ship is flying, or the territorial waters of the country the ship is in.

In at least one case, a private security consultant said, an armed team had rented weapons from the Djibouti government then was forced to drop them over the side of the ship to avoid illegally importing them into the country where they were due to disembark. The consultant asked for anonymity because he did not wish to compromise his business.

Kenneth C. Randall, the Dean of the University of Alabama School of Law and an expert in international piracy law, said there were complex issues for companies providing legally armed private guards.

"Commercial vessels have the right of innocent passage through most coastal waters. Some nations might say once you're armed, you're no longer innocent," he said.

Many questions have yet to be tested in court: should ships wait for the pirates to fire before returning fire? Is it still self-defense if the pirates are not firing at the shooter, instead aiming at the captain's bridge? What happens if the pirates are attacking from a "mother ship" — a vessel that has already been pirated — and there are civilians onboard being used as human shields?

That's the nightmare scenario the Indian navy faced last November. Pirates hijacked a Thai fishing trawler then apparently fired on an Indian warship. The Indians returned fire, turning the Ekawat Nava 5 into a massive fireball and killing 14 of the 15 crew as well as the pirates. The surviving sailor spent six days adrift in the shark-infested ocean before another ship picked him up.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Rest of the story here :
<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gzelrkXvzInzAtghAHki1iAtYozwD98KI1T00" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...AtYozwD98KI1T00</a>
 
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