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Old 24-06-2008, 10:49   #1
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PIRATES - Gulf of Aden (Sunday 22 June)

A News flash on BBC News 24 this morning, 0624UTC mentioned a group of four Europeans who have been taken off coast of Africa including one female.

I have traced the news to the Somali north coast in the Gulf of Aden where the pirates have taken the four people ashore and abandoned the yacht on the shore line.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/a...n_Somali_waters

Not good . . . . !

UPDATE:

From the BBC, the yacht crew were; Husband (German), wife (French) and young child (boy) plus a skipper.

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Pirates 'seize family off Yemen'

Bloomberg.com: Africa


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Old 24-06-2008, 13:34   #2
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Not good...!

Hopefully something will be done...and soon.
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Old 24-06-2008, 16:09   #3
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Maybe a good idea would be for a LEGAL place to rent automatic firearms somewhere at the start of or near Yemen and then have a place to return them near the mouth of the Suez. Having every boat armed with automatic firearms might cause pause...

Sure. Just kidding. Without the ability to carry firearms, the only way I believe you might feel comfortable would be in a convoy of several other yachts or an escort from a military vessel.

This is terrible. If they are successful with this, it will surely encourage more of the same.
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Old 30-06-2008, 13:04   #4
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Seems really strange to me that convoys can't be organised each two weeks, all escorted by armed warships, and all paying for the privilege.

I suspect this would be overall less costly to the overseas nations covering such current sporadic policing costs - significantly reduce the risks for those transiting the seaway - and maybe see the pirates move back to farming / fishing or whatever could earn them a quid.

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Old 30-06-2008, 13:46   #5
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John - that is a hell of a good idea - only problem is it smacks of too much common sense. And we know political situations don't know what that is.
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Old 30-06-2008, 14:20   #6
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Seems really strange to me that convoys can't be organised each two weeks, all escorted by armed warships, and all paying for the privilege.
I suspect this would be overall less costly to the overseas nations covering such current sporadic policing costs -...
JOHN
Anyone have any idea what it cost to operate a warship?
I don't think I'd want to be part of a small fleet sharing those costs.
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Old 30-06-2008, 15:09   #7
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Anyone have any idea what it cost to operate a warship?
I don't think I'd want to be part of a small fleet sharing those costs.
True. But I wonder if hey could do the escorts as cheap or cheaper then the policing. And with maybe better results? Take away the prey and they won't have a reason to come out.

But, when the escorts stopped... Hmmm, I think I answered my own question.
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Old 30-06-2008, 17:33   #8
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Anyone have any idea what it cost to operate a warship?
I don't think I'd want to be part of a small fleet sharing those costs.
Yep.
It would be a lot cheaper to rent the AR-15s.
If you can rent a jetski................
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Old 30-06-2008, 19:55   #9
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Send in an Attractive Decoy...

Seemingly Unarmed, and when they respond....

Kill them all.

Send in another decoy...

Rinse, Repeat....

It will not be long before these animals flee in terror from unarmed yachts.
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Old 03-07-2008, 01:44   #10
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Update - Conflicting Reports

Somali pirates, behind the kidnapping of a German couple last week (Monday, June 23), are now demanding a two million dollar ransom for their release.

The couple was abducted early Monday (23 June) as they sailed through the Gulf of Aden on a trip from Egypt to Thailand. Early reports claimed that four Europeans were kidnapped, including the French skipper and a German child, but the pirates said they are holding only the couple.

The German couple has been variously identified as either:
German Press: Juergen K. (63) and Sabine M. (51) from Neuhausen near Stuttgart, aboard the yacht “Candy M.
~Or~
English Reports: M. Sabine and K. Juergen, aboard yacht “Rockall

Up to 100 small yachts make the Red Sea transit each year, most with short-handed crew; usually families. This the first instance of a small cruising yacht's non-professional crew being held hostage.
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Old 03-07-2008, 02:06   #11
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While the cost to private yachts might be prohibitive, the insurance to the larger shipping vessels is getting out of control as well. There are some lines that will not go by the Gulf do to the cost of going through that area in insurance premium is higher than the cost of fuel to go the long way around (even with the dangers off Nigeria). So you might be able to get a convoy that is mixed to go through on a weekly or bi weekly basis.

While I believe that the use of firearms is at time warranted (I am not going to open that can up at all). The problems and control of those firearms in an area that is already violent would not be the best idea in my view. Mainly due to the fact that you do need a good bit of training to be able to hit a target while on a unstable platform (having been part of a M60A3 crew and a MG gunner on the Old Jeep's, I can tell you it ain't easy). Now building a mortar with PVC pipe and a scuba tank is another item that can be done rather easily and a used wine bottle with the proper filling could make someones day less than pleasant.

The real option is bringing to bear a collective voice of the Sailing populace (commercial and private) to the government that can do something about it. There are many routes that this can be prosued though they would require that those involved can see beyond their own nose and not all of humanity is capable of that. The best thing to do is get a Boycott going of the whole area to include those who have mega yachts and the cruise lines in showing them that the area will remain unstable until the government of the region decide to take matters into their own hands and clean it up.

Than there is going back to gunboat diplomacy (Worked in Tripoli all those years ago), only that gets you accused of Imperialism (still say that Italy should not have given up their colonies, but hey).

The above is opinions and 2 pence worth only, please take it as such.

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Old 03-07-2008, 04:10   #12
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or how about you have a watch on mega yachts... when they go through , the "Minos" hang with the "big fish"....Co coordination's will be everything because the big fish will move fast. Someone reminded me on another post of the "duty and rules of the sea"..maybee it could go both ways.....
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Old 06-07-2008, 02:27   #13
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Somalia Pirates - UPDATE 6 July 2008

The German skipper is a diabetic and has now been sent insulin but they are still in captivity in Puntland!

Sail-World.com : Kidnapped Sailors Phone Home
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Old 06-07-2008, 05:21   #14
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The only cruising guy I heard of who took a pop at a set (sic) of pirates, was murdered off the Amazon river South America!

Peter Blake (yachtsman) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Old 06-07-2008, 05:44   #15
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From what I have read, they do not usually intend to kill or maim. Their first intention is to obtain money or valuable from you and have no intent on harm

There first target, your yacht is to empty a few rounds into your sails. If you don't heave-to quietly after that they they shoot out your halyards to drop the main and foresail to bring your boat to a stop. It is similar to pulling your pants right down as you are trying to run away!
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