[Billthedrill]

There isn't any spelling consistency there. I used the only one I know. Sorry... This Article is a couple of months old but it gives the gist of things.

It's a fascinating thing to watch grow. The origins of the old Barbary Coast were something similar. I doubt seriously this one will turn into a mini-state but weirder things have happened. These guys are making more than the entire area's annual budget.

What is even more interesting is the leverage granted a relatively small number of people by modern technology - we've all remarked on it with respect to political terrorism but this is purely commercial and astoundingly effective.

Unhindered by the refusal of UN sanction, the international community could make very short work of this problem by leveling the area. But I don't think that will happen. And I do think the problem will fester if it doesn't.

[Arkinsaw]

It's a fascinating thing to watch grow. The origins of the old Barbary Coast were something similar. I doubt seriously this one will turn into a mini-state but weirder things have happened. These guys are making more than the entire area's annual budget.

These jokers attack in old dhows pulling a motorboat. The are usually armed with AK-47 and RPG. How you cannot defend a supertanker against that I do not know.

A couple of .50 cals and a small security force could deal with that. One of those .50 cal sniper rifles could also do a number at long range as they approached.

As much money as the Saudis have, they could put a phalanx on the thing that would turn a dhow into matchsticks.

They have money, why are they not defending their own ships.

[Billthedrill]

Found it on GoogleEarth - 7’59”N, 49’49” E. It’s slightly inland from the actual port. There are some structures on the beach but the hostages are kept in town.

[El Gato]

The map accompanying that article shows the place I directed Google, and other, maps to. Nothing there in terms of a port. It's like Browsnville Texas without the dreged out channel norht of the Rio Grande which allows access to the port, at least for small shrimpers and such. The way the Rio Grande sort of ends, look very similar to the stream at Eyl.

Where do they put all the ships they take there? There do not appear to be barrier islands in that part of the coast, such as there along most of the US Gulf and Atlantic coasts. It's more like the pacific coast, with many fewer natural bays.