Luxury yachts offer pirate hunting cruises

Ananova ^ | 6/28/09 | Ananova

[jimbo123]

Luxury ocean liners in Russia are offering pirate hunting cruises aboard armed private yachts off the Somali coast.

Wealthy punters pay £3,500 per day to patrol the most dangerous waters in the world hoping to be attacked by raiders.

When attacked, they retaliate with grenade launchers, machine guns and rocket launchers, reports Austrian business paper Wirtschaftsblatt.

Passengers, who can pay an extra £5 a day for an AK-47 machine gun and £7 for 100 rounds of ammo, are also protected by a squad of ex special forces troops.

[John123]

When attacked, they retaliate with grenade launchers, machine guns and rocket launchers,

I thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed?

[MattinNJ]

Amazin. The private sector works again where government fails

[GonzoGOP]

I thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed?

Nope, the problem was that many ports won't allow armed ships to unload in them. Since this isn't going anyplace in particular they can pick out ports that won't have a problem.

[cranked]

Do what I did and join Blackwater ... hunting pirates becomes ‘free’. /sarcasm

[Krankor]

I thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed
Oil tankers and cargo ships, yeah, but civilian "pleasure cruises" can be armed to the teeth.

[SandRat]

The ships deliberately cruise close to the coast at a speed of just five nautical miles in an attempt to attract the interest of pirates.

Just Troll Fishing for Pirates.

[TCats]

A very good private sector response. Akin to big game hunting. The ultimate Reality Vacation! Thumbs up.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Only if you make port calls at treaty member nations.

Gotta hand it to the Ruskies, they’ll make a ruble off of anything.

Reminds me of the story, “The Most Dangerous Game”.

[Vaquero]

I thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed?

the blue helmets will save us.....thank goodness for the UN and international law(lessness)

[angkor]

>>>> I thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed? <<<<<

I’ve owned boats most of my life (though currently boatless) and never heard such a thing.

The only reason I’ve ever known of to not have firearms aboard is due to whimsical jurisdictional laws, which might make you OK in one port but illegal in another.

Quasi-relevant example: a concealed carry permit in Alexandia, VA is null and void when you step on your boat, since Maryland owns the Potomac River to the Virginia shoreline. Once you’re on the water you’re in Maryland and the laws are different.

Same thing internationally.

[John123]

but civilian "pleasure cruises" can be armed to the teeth.

If that is the case, why are these boats using water canons to fight off the pirates?

[CIB-173RDABN]

Our consitution allows congress to “grant Letters of Marque” which if I understand correctly allows civilians to do just this.

[Krankor]

It’s more sporting.

[Wooly]

If this catches on they will be back to big game poaching

[John123]

I saw a lot of responses about my question whether or not civilian boats are supposed to be unarmed in the International waters...

Which really confuses me here... how come more boats weren't armed when crossing the pirate waters? It seems that the pirates were the only ones with weapons...

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

Amen, whenever there is a problem there is always a willing capitalist to help solve said problem. It is s shame that Russia will be more capitalistic than us in the near future.

[BattleHymn]

This theme of this article is luxury yacht, but it is pronounced "Throatwobbler Mangrove."

[CodeToad]

Seems fair to me. The skinnies hunt yachts, the yachts return the favor.

[Gay State Conservative]

I thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed?

Maybe so.But this is the USSR we're talking about here.International laws don't apply to them.Just ask the Georgians.And the Ukrainians.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

The World is already nuts, so why not pirate attracting cruises.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I cry BOGUS! This is eggs ackley the same as the joke email that was circulating a month ago, right down to the particulars! IT’S BS!

[dila813]

thats awesome!

[dadgum]

Sounds like fun. I’m a sick puppy...

[bert]

.....thought there was some International law that all civilian boats must be unarmed? ....

Since Russia is broke, it may have legalized the operation by providing letters of Marque

[NonValueAdded]

Who are the capitalists now!!!

[atomic conspiracy]

I knew 14 bucks for a hundred rounds of 7.62X39 was too good to be true.

We have a much better offer for those who want a crack at the bad guys: Go to your local recruiting office and volunteer for combat arms. It’s free! Clothing, equipment, transportation, medical care and life insurance furnished, all at no cost to you!

[Vaquero]

Luxury yachts offer pirate hunting cruises

Wow what a great Idea!!!

maybe they can go down to Antarctica a blast those friggen @$$h0le pirates that attack legal whalers on that abomination called Whale Wars??.....

[joesjane]

I LOVE IT! Saving up my vacation dollars right now.

[advance_copy]

Oh, man. They could make one cool TV show out of this.

[Chode]

gotta love it...

[AnotherUnixGeek]

So basically people who enjoy murder pay money for the opportunity to hunt and kill fellow human beings like game animals drawn to bait. Except that game animals usually aren’t taken down with rocket launchers. Remarkably depraved if true.

[TurtleUp]

So basically people who enjoy murder pay money for the opportunity to hunt and kill fellow human beings like game animals drawn to bait. Except that game animals usually aren’t taken down with rocket launchers. Remarkably depraved if true.

I don't quite agree. Many good police officers feel like they have accomplished something when they take a predator off the streets and make their home safer for decent people. Assuming that this story is true, I find it entirely plausible that decent people would enjoy making the waters off Somalia safer for other decent people.

[2ndClassCitizen]

The article should have been labelled sarcasm. It is not real. Too bad.

I think it would save innocent lives if some people started doing things like this.

In my mind the depravity is in people who are willing to tolerate the piracy and berate the people who would wipe out the pirates.

[Principled]

I chuckle every time i see this thread bumped.... ;)

[neocon1984]

It’s ironic that the entrepreneurial spirit may be growing in the former Soviet Union while it is being smothered here.

[Ajnin]

So basically people who enjoy murder pay money for the opportunity to hunt and kill fellow human beings like game animals drawn to bait. Except that game animals usually aren’t taken down with rocket launchers. Remarkably depraved if true

Perhaps you missed the part about being attacked by pirates. Which would make killing them self defense not murder. It's been a long standing custom if not international law to hunt down pirates and kill them.

[Erik Latranyi]

It’s ironic that the entrepreneurial spirit may be growing in the former Soviet Union while it is being smothered here.

First, I understand that this is a joke.

Second, a few years ago, this would have been written as:

A bunch of rednecks from Alabama have decided to take their bass boats over to Somalia and troll the waters looking for pirates.

"We troll behind the boat for whatever we can catch. We also fly the American flag...boy does that piss them camelboys off!" said Leroy Billy Bob Johnson of Tuscaloosa.

"Any day you can whack a few A-rab A-habs and catch a cooler full of fish a good day by me!"

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The article should have been labelled sarcasm. It is not real.

Yeah, I was pretty sure it wasn't, even in this day and age.

In my mind the depravity is in people who are willing to tolerate the piracy and berate the people who would wipe out the pirates.

LOL - right, the depravity isn't in paying money for a fun-filled vacation to deliberately kill fellow human beings, the depravity is in pointing out that such acts are wrong. As for "tolerating" piracy, it's been put down over the centuries without the help of amateurs looking to satisfy their curiosity and sadism by paying to kill people for fun and kicks.

[atomic conspiracy]

I think I've found the source:

Somali Cruises

It's a lefty satire site. Note the testimonials:

"Six attacks in 4 days was more than I expected. I bagged three pirates and my 12yr old son sank two rowboats with the minigun. PIRATES: 0 - PASSENGERS: 32! Well worth the trip. Just make sure your spotter speaks English" -- Donald, Salt Lake city Utah USA

"I haven't had this much fun since flying choppers in NAM . Don't worry about getting shot by pirates as they never even got close to the ship with those weapons they use and their shitty aim--reminds me of a drunken'juicer' door gunner we picked up from the motor pool back in Nam" -- 'chopper' Dan, Toledo USA.

[Left2Right]

First they offered trips to space for private citizens, now this.

I’m really beginning to warm up to the Ruskies!

[MattinNJ]

Exacty. Only 1 of the 4 planes was taken down on 9/11. Was it the FAA? Nope. Was it the USAF? Nope. It was private citizens that got their info on cell phones.

[jesseam]

Thank God for Blackwater. You guys saved my bacon more than once in Iraq!!

[El Gato]

AK-47 machine gun and £7 for 100 rounds of ammo

I ain't going out there without my own tools. If I must rent something, I want something with more reach. Say Ma Deuces or one of the Soviet 14.5mm machine guns. Or better yet, a 25 mm Bushmaster cannon concealed behind falsework, until the pirates get close.

[ftk1t]

Google “To the point news and cruises”. Will show the cruise ship, rooms, guns, etc.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Reminds me of the story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell.

[KingofZion]

just saw this - looks like the pirate problem could be solved pretty quickly.

sad to see that the russians seem to have a better enterpreneurial spirit these days than nato. but perhaps that’s a sign of how well RR did in winning the cold war.