Somali pirates seize supertanker loaded with crude

AP ^

[traumer]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Somali pirates hijacked a supertanker hundreds of miles off the Horn of Africa, seizing the Saudi-owned ship loaded with crude and its 25-member crew, the U.S. Navy said Monday.

It appeared to be the largest ship ever seized by pirates.

After the brazen hijacking, the pirates on Monday sailed the Sirius Star to a Somali port that has become a haven for bandits and the ships they have seized, a Navy spokesman said.

The hijacking was among the most brazen in a surge in attacks this year by ransom-hungry Somali pirates. Attacks off the Somali coast have increased more than 75 percent this year, and even the world's largest vessels are vulnerable.

The Sirius Star, commissioned in March and owned by the Saudi oil company Aramco, is 1,080 feet long — about the length of an aircraft carrier — making it one of the largest ships to sail the seas. It can carry about 2 million barrels of oil.

Lt. Nathan Christensen, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, said the pirates hijacked the ship on Saturday about 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya — the farthest out to sea Somali pirates have struck.

[Alcibiades]

Exactly. It’s not like they can’t afford it.

I say have the US Navy protect American and some allies’(think Columbia, Brittain) ships and let the pirates have the rest. The world hates us anyway so what’s the point in protecting the Chinese/Arab/South American vessels?

We could probably get a sweet deal on some of our major imports by dealing with the pirates.

[Chode]

HOZE-EM!!!

[jetson]

Send in the cook.

[RedMonqey]

Where is Stephan Decatur when you need him?

Stephan Decatur is dead.
Services will be burial at Sea.
In lieu of flowers, send ransom.

There was no surviving relatives.

[Freedom56v2]

Amazing!!
Who is not allowing merchant mariners to be armed? Many of them are likely naval reserve officers—why in world wouldn’t they be armed?

[Lurker]

why in world wouldn’t they be armed?

Because it's illegal.

L

[Paladin2]

Don’t let any flotsam or better leave the shores of Somalia for a generation. That should send a reasonable message.

[Freedom56v2]

Wow—that is frightening and illogical...Is that some international maritime law?

[screaminsunshine]

The companies and government will not allow us weapons on board. Not even in pirate areas.

[R W Reactionairy]

I posted the essence of this in another thread, but the probable motive for this hijacking is to hold the ship as a hostage [blow up the ship as you suggest and all you have done is kill a few idiots , the crew and succeeded in sinking a 100 million dollar cargo ... and then there is the value of the ship ... the half cocked reaction to 50 million barrels of crude spilled ... and from there, don't get me started.]

[fishhound]

History Lesson...

Photograph of ship described as H.M.S. Sirius Star, First Ship In Normandy Invasion, showing the ship from the side, at anchor; above the picture of the ship, are inset photographs of the head and shoulders of three members of the Venables family, two of whom are in sailor’s uniform, and the third in the uniform of one of the womens’ services

Date: 1944

http://www.easington.gov.uk/services/photos/picviewer.asp?next=322

[bossmechanic]

OK - so lets not be half cocked.
Split the darn thing from stem to stern and follow up with a arial gasoline vapor bomb to burn off the oil residue.
The 3 month flare should cause pause amongst up and coming pirates.

[bossmechanic]

Didn’t know weapons weren’t allowed on the high seas. Heck, I have a saiga 12 when I take my 24’ out on a small lake between AL and GA. But then again, the CA and NY libs probably consider us more dangerous than the average al-quida terrorists. And ya know what?
THEY’RE RIGHT!