Posted on 05/25/2010 12:33:25 PM PDT by Cindy
Note: The following text is a quote:
U.S. Navy Destroyer Locates Pirated Vessel
By From a Combined Maritime Forces, Public Affairs News Release American Forces Press Service
MANAMA, Bahrain, May 24, 2010 – The USS McFaul, a U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, located the pirated M/V Iceberg I off the coast of Somalia with up to 50 pirates and more than 20 crew members on board. The Panamanian-flagged vessel had last been seen off Garacaad, a Somali town and known pirate haven. The Iceberg’s exact location was unknown until the McFaul made a positive identification of the pirated ship on May 19.
The ship initially communicated to the McFaul that it had not been pirated and instead was off course for its next port-of-call due to mechanical difficulties. Visual identification was at first confusing, because the name on the vessel's hull read, “Sea Express.” Further investigation showed that the name of the ship had been crudely painted over.
After the McFaul requested to board the ship to check on the health and safety of the crew, the Iceberg radioed that they had been taken hostage, noting that the pirates on board were heavily armed.
The McFaul continued to shadow the ship for more than 36 hours, before the Iceberg reversed its course toward the Somali coast.
"We cannot be sure what the pirates plan was if they had not been interrupted. The vessel may have been on its way to either assist other pirates in distress, or look for another merchant vessel to attack," said Republic of Korea Rear Adm. Beom Rim Lee, commanding officer of Combined Task Force 151, the Combined Maritime Forces’ counter-piracy task force that operates in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. "First and foremost, our responsibility is to ensure the safety of the crew. Given the report of heavily armed pirates on board, it was more prudent to monitor the ship's movement, rather than attempt a rescue," said Commander Ronald W. Toland, Jr., the McFaul’s commanding officer. "My crew executed their instructions perfectly and I'm proud of each and every one of them."
Successful pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin decreased by 40 percent in 2009, increased in part to the presence of coalition warships and also by the use of best management practices by the shipping industry. These practices include the use of razor wire, 24-hour watches, fire hoses and high-speed maneuvers by vessels transiting throughout the area.
CTF 151 is a multinational task force established by CMF in January 2009 to conduct counter-piracy operations. CMF patrols more than 2.5 million square miles of international waters to conduct both integrated and coordinated operations to increase regional security and prosperity.
Related Sites: Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs Office
QUICK, READ THEM THEIR MARANDA RIGHTS AND GIVE THEM AMNESTY!
“The Iceberg’s exact location was unknown until the McFaul made a positive identification of the pirated ship on May 19.”
What, looked at the aft end and read the friggen name?
Are we gonna restock the pirates as per the CIC’s order?
"Visual identification was at first confusing, because the name on the vessel's hull read, “Sea Express.” Further investigation showed that the name of the ship had been crudely painted over."
Good job USS McFaul.
Now radio the nearest Russian warship to do the jobs Americans won’t do.
Solution
Go to Pirate’s nest, and smoke them.
They will be held until Census workers can arrive to collect their data.
Did Obama order us to surrender to them?
For more information regarding live piracy reports, piracy alerts and other information regarding pirates, please check the link above.
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Here is today’s LIVE PIRACY REPORT:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=table&tableid=534&calculations=0&Itemid=82
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“Worldwide hijackings rise as pirates expand area of operation”
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
MAP CAPTION: “Somali pirates range far beyond their shores to hijack vessels”
SNIPPET: “Somali pirates were responsible for 35 of the 67 piracy incidents reported worldwide during the first quarter of the year, the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported today.
The number of incidents represents a sharp drop from the 102 attacks reported during the first quarter of last year. “This marked reduction can be attributed to the continued presence and success of the navies in the Gulf of Aden along with the robust anti piracy measures adopted by the merchant navy fleet,” the report said.
Twenty-six vessels were boarded during the first quarter of 2010, with 18 ships fired upon, 12 suffering from attempted attacks, and 11 vessels hijacked. A total of 194 crew members were taken hostage, 12 of whom were injured.
The east and south coast of Somalia recorded 18 incidents including five vessels hijacked and 11 fired upon in the first quarter of 2010 compared with 21 incidents including four vessels hijacked and 11fired upon for the corresponding period in 2009. Within the Gulf of Aden and in the adjacent Red and Arabian Seas 17 incidents were reported, including the hijacking of four vessels, compared with 41 incidents, including five hijacked vessels, in the first quarter of 2009.
“Somali pirates are dangerous and are prepared to fire their automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades at vessels in order to stop them,” the report said.
But even as the total number of incidents decline, the range of action by Somali pirates continues to expand, spreading from the Gulf of Aden and the southern part of the Red Sea to the coasts off Kenya, Tanzania, the Seychelles, and even Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and Oman in the Arabian Sea.”
I see 50 more Obama voters here.
And under orders from Obama, the US Naval vessel quickly surrendered to the pirates.
“Given the report of heavily armed pirates on board, it was more prudent to monitor the ship’s movement, rather than attempt a rescue,”
Are they kidding me? I am thinking seriously about changing my FR name from NavyCanDo to somthing else. Are Navy is not alowed to anymore.
You mean The job Obama won’t do.
I have no doubt that the US Navy is ready, willing and able to deal with piracy on the high seas.
They just need a CiC with the stones to do so, as Thomas Jefferson once did.
Does the rest of the title read, “Pirates Thankful it was not Russians who Found them?”
“... but when in doubt, send the Marines!” (Tom Lehrer)
Smoke ‘em if you see ‘em, men!
Call the Russians for lasting solutions.
Put’em in a few lifeboats and cut’em loose. Oh yeah, not navigation aids either.
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