Somali pirates hijack 2 ships

The Straits Times ^ | Mar 24, 2010 | AP

[skully]

NAIROBI (Kenya) - SOMALI pirates hijacked two ships on Tuesday, including a vessel carrying fertiliser, in a series of attacks that shows the pirates are moving further east, officials said.

The hijacking of the Malta-flagged MV Frigia took place more than 1,600 km out at sea and represents a substantial increase in the pirates' range, said Commander John Harbour, spokesman for the European Union Naval Force. The attack took place more than 640 km outside where the naval force operates.

The second hijacking, of the MV Talca, took place about 190 km off the coast of Oman, said Mr Harbour. It was 96km from the easternmost limits of the 3.9 million square metres area patrolled by around 35 warships from the European Union Naval Force, Nato, the US and other nations.

[17th Miss Regt]

3.9 million square metres area patrolled by around 35 warships from the European Union Naval Force, Nato, the US and other nations.

There is most of the problem right there. 35 ships patrol an area of less that 4 square kilometers!

[biff]

I have no sympathy for these companies that sail their ships into these waters unarmed. I don’t give a damn what international law says.

[tflabo]

Shoot, sail and shut up!

[A message]

So were these the pirates the Dutch let go last week?

The two skiffs were destroyed and the pirates were set free on the mothership after it had been cleared of weapons.

Somali pirates attempt attack on Dutch warship

[octex]

I’ve read on FR within the last day or two that the old U-2 aircraft are being used in Afg. and spotting IED placements.

Why not use them to spot the pirates’ mother ships and their small boats? The U-2 could view small details like weapons and then direct the ground controllers to send in a Predator drone or one Warthog and send them all to Davey Jone’s locker.

[Two Kids' Dad]

Some country or company needs to send a decoy ship into the area laden with nothing but explosives and guided by remote control. Once the pirates approach and board the vessel... BOOM! Itty bitty pirate chunks everywhere and the fish are happy for a free meal. Do that 5 or 6 times and they’ll have to change their game plan.

Either that or have ships sail in those waters with heavily armed and armored personnel to blast them as they approach.

Nothing short of killing the pirates will be effective in the long run. No half-measures.

[A message]

Nothing short of killing the pirates will be effective in the long run.

Exactly correct.

[pyx]

A fairly easy solution to the vermin problem is to post a sign that would actually be followed up on onboard all transportation ships going into the area;

Somalian Pelts
$2.00 Each

[OrangeHoof]

The Pirates are pikers compared to the Democrat Party. If you want to see some REAL theft, look no further than your typical Democrat in Congress.

[ASA Vet]

Naw, most of the problem is they are allowed to return to their land bases. Remove these and the problem goes away.

[17th Miss Regt]

It sorta worked with the Barbary pirates. Oh yeah, we didn’t have a muslim president then...

[ASA Vet]

We don’t have a president, he’s merely the resident.

[17th Miss Regt]

Resident. Yep, good catch there.

[17th Miss Regt]

I take this to mean that you would not keelhaul them as that would probably ruin the pelt.

[pyx]

I take this to mean that you would not keelhaul them as that would probably ruin the pelt.

Not necessarily. Keelhauling would likely rinse the pelt and get the other crud that accumulates (similar smelly hippies from the 1960s) on it.

[17th Miss Regt]

True. And in those waters there would be no need for any pollution permits.