As the photo shows, Dutch ships use an alpha-numeric hull code, not a simple numeric "77"
That said, the ruse might not necessarily effective. Fourteen Months ago, Somali pirates attacked a sister ship HNLMS Tromp. thinking it was a merchie.
Posted on 05/14/2011 12:26:50 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
The notorious Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s flagship, the Steve Irwin, ran the gauntlet of Somali pirates recently as the ship and crew transited the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.
In an effort to fool the pirates the Steve Irwin used a camouflage paint job with a large “77” placed on the bow, even fooling a U.S. military Blackhawk helicopter that mistook the vessel for a Dutch warship.
Sea Shepherd was hoping that the pirates would make the same mistake, but three skiffs supposedly approached Steve Irwin and tailed the vessel for a few miles. The pirates appeared to be uncertain and backed off to check out a nearby container ship.
The Sea Shepherd’s Captain, Captain Lockhart MacLean, notified naval authorities in the area and warned of the container ship that the skiffs were approaching.
The skiffs eventually backed off and both ships.
Via Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Sea Shepherd also harass other fishing vessels as well. Not just whalers.
You got that right.
Probably laughed and changed their minds about warning them about the pirates waiting for them.
As the photo shows, Dutch ships use an alpha-numeric hull code, not a simple numeric "77"
That said, the ruse might not necessarily effective. Fourteen Months ago, Somali pirates attacked a sister ship HNLMS Tromp. thinking it was a merchie.
Yes, but professional courtesy amongst pirates precludes their attack upon Irwin or him upon their vessels.
I don't think Richards is gay, just British.
I highly doubt that.
On reflection I don't. In fact it's more likely to fool the USN Seahawk crew than Somali pirates.
Small ship, flying Dutch flag (Steve Irwin is Dutch registry). which is the same as the naval ensign, hull number - it looks like a small Dutch naval auxilliary eg 
. But not a ship the helo crew would have the info to specically identify.
Somali pirates should realize even a small auxilliary probably has them outgunned, but will be too stupid to fall for the Sea Shepherd ruse, on past performance not even identifying it as a possible naval ship.
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