Pirates Take German Ship Towards Comrades Off Somalia

Radionz.co.nz ^ | 11 April 2009 | Staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

Pirates on Friday sailed a hijacked German freighter and its crew toward a lifeboat off Somalia where an American hostage is being held.

They are reportedly doing so an attempt to help their comrades in a standoff with the US Navy.

Four pirates are holding the American captain of a cargo ship, Richard Phillips, in a drifting lifeboat and demanding $US2 million for his release and a guarantee of their own safety.

They have been holding him since a foiled attempt on Wednesday to hijack the 17,000-tonne, Danish-owned Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean.

A destroyer, the USS Bainbridge, is close by.

Another group that hijacked a 20,000-tonne German container vessel, the Hansa Stavanger, a week ago is reportedly heading to the scene of the standoff.

[Walvoord]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Intercept it and use the deck gun to blow away the rudder and propeller.

[Eye of Unk]

Or do it by stealth, we do have ROVs that can get in and either trail some spectra anchor line or a small demolition type of limpet mine, myself I would try to entangle the prop first or jam the rudder mechanism. The Bismark was essentially mortally wounded because its steering was damaged back in WW2. The reason I am thinking of spectra or its latest version is that most ships use it nowadays as a tow line, much stronger than steel cable.

[Miss Didi]

They probably couldn't get the OK from the CIC fast enough to do anything... he was busy bowling or something.



No, Barry and Mrs. Clinton were playing a nice game of checkers and sipping iced tea under a sycamore tree.

[BattleHymn]

It has got to be beefy. Michelle uses it, doesn’t she?

[GladesGuru]

“He will no doubt bow to mecca and maybe even beat michelle and the kids.”

I’d put my money on Michelle beating Obama, not the other way around.

[SeminoleSoldier]

It could be tricky to do, but with so many captured ships and crews in one location, it might be possible to free several at once.

Windy, foggy night to minimize noise, an EW attack to dupe the pirates, and then send SEALs to do what they do.

[Principled]

" WE HAVE AN AMERICAN HERE AND HE DOESN’T SEEM TO GIVE A DARN."

Maybe ? because he ( The American Captain ) is a white Caucasian ? ......

Maybe because Obama isn't an American?

[SeminoleSoldier]

I wonder if any shipping organizations would put a bounty on pirates. Each kill would have to be backed up by video of the boat/pirates in question hostile and armed to ensure random fishermen weren’t killed.

[Jeff Head]

My own guess is that the pirates immediately jumped into the water and that any shot was too dangerous to the captain at that moment.

I believe by this time we have the best on scene and they know what they are doing and will wait until there is the best hope and opportunity to save the captain while taking out the pirates...and until they have the ok to proceed from their superiors.

[Randy Larsen]

On the high seas that could be a possibility!

I think they need to catch them coming back to homeport with the cash and blow them away there.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

That applies also.

[doug from upland]

Hillary has always been a Pirate fan

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

AND, STILL...................................................
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...................crickets..................................
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................not word from ‘dear leader’.

[PA-RIVER]

A floating Roach motel....

Never Happen.

Obama will appologize for American arrogance that caused this to happen.

[yongin]

During the campaign, the Messiah said he would like to talk to America’s foes with no preconditions. This is his chance. Perhaps he could offer the pirates a stimulus plan so they won’t attack America ships again.

[antiunion person]

I was a Ranger in the U.S. Army and worked with Nave SEALS a few times. I know for a fact they have weapons that use body heat for targeting. ALl they need to do is have 4 Navy SEALS target the four bad guys and just shoot the bad guys. With the other pirated ships with their hostages onboard heading to the location all this crap is going on, it will be more difficult for a resolution to be had.
The number problem is the President of the United States is a p@ssy. He is a yellow bellied liberal who doesn't give a damn about anything unless it improves his political career.
We need to impeach this POS and get someone in there who has a set to handle all these 3am telephone calls.

[PA-RIVER]

If this Captain survives .... The MSM will be going through his garbage looking for dirt.

[lainie]

The owner of (one of?) the boats held last November was on FBN the other day, saying that if armed security were implemented there'd be a two-tiered system through the strait, comprised of haves and have-nots (based on who could afford it). He listed this as a reason not to have armed officers.

To that I said, "and?" but he wasn't challenged on it. What is the story!? Would armed security have cost him more than the million or so he paid in ransom to get his ship back?

I do not understand why these ships aren't armed. It makes no sense at all.

[Seven plus One]

Only if he fails to thank obama enthusiastically enough.

[angkor]

poke around this site:

http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/uss-boxer-lhd-4