Pirates Take a Serious Hit !

[LakeSuperior]

The tide seems to be turning on piracy off of Africa.

South Korea kills 8 pirates, rescues hijacked crew - USATODAY.com

[PamlicoTraveler]

"We will not tolerate any behavior that threatens the lives and safety of our people in the future," South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said in a brief televised statement,

Seems like a good attitude to take.

[messias]

Yep! Unfortunately that seems to be the only way to stop them...

Wich leads to another question that i was wondering about...
How do you "boys and girls" protect yourselfs of this? How do you think you can "defend" you vessel and your crew/familly? And how do you plan a passage within range of such "most commonly dangerous areas" of piracy?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by messias

Yep! Unfortunately that seems to be the only way to stop them...?

I am not sure it will stop them. If you are a starving fisherman with a family to feed are you going to sit on the beach because the local waters have been raped of fish for 2 decades or take your chances of a $45k share in a profitable hijack?

Originally Posted by messias

Which leads to another question that i was wondering about... How do you "boys and girls" protect yourselfs of this? How do you think you can "defend" you vessel and your crew/familly? And how do you plan a passage within range of such "most commonly dangerous areas" of piracy?

This has been discussed at length over the past couple of years as the problem became more serious. Worth having a search through the threads on CF which has some good advice.

Pete

[jannpage]

I agree with Pete7. Of course it is not a matter of right and wrong. (It almost never is) what are the alternatives and the risks? When the stake is lots of "easy" money - even the relatively prosperous countries of Europe and North America find pleanty of takers for "illegal" activities. So don't blame the poor any where. Look to solve their poverty, establish better governments and fund lots of police and prisons (or firing squads) or- be prepared to face ranson and risk or stay away. Moralizing won't fix it. pjssailor

[Tom and Maje]

I must applaud the Korean’s for their action.

Maje

[apneseth]

I must agree with Pete7.

Although piracy should not be tolerated I think resorting to a death penalty at the spot is a bit drastic. And as the people who are committing piracy are on the verge of starvation I doubt that it will stop them.

It is fairly easy to get aboard a yacht in the middle of the ocean even if you are equipped only with an open dinghy and a ladder but the fact that the pirates are getting aboard commercial ships tells me that the crew are not paying adequate attention. If they don't see an oncoming pirate skiff, will they see me when I am out sailing?

Evasive maneuvers and razor wire seems like a better alternative than killing people - even bad people.

Claus

[97fxdwg]

Originally Posted by jannpage

I agree with Pete7. Of course it is not a matter of right and wrong. (It almost never is) what are the alternatives and the risks? When the stake is lots of "easy" money - even the relatively prosperous countries of Europe and North America find pleanty of takers for "illegal" activities. So don't blame the poor any where. Look to solve their poverty, establish better governments and fund lots of police and prisons (or firing squads) or- be prepared to face ranson and risk or stay away. Moralizing won't fix it. pjssailor

Bullcrap. You steal, you're a thief. Do I feel sympathy for a starving man? Yes. Do I do anything to help that starving man? Yes, I have 5 "adopted African kids."

[Tellie]

"In one of the most controversial rescues, Russian marines freed 23 crew barricaded on board a Russian tanker, the Moscow University. The pirates were later found dead and adrift in a small boat."

Just curous. How many Russian ships are pirated?

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by apneseth

I must agree with Pete7.

Although piracy should not be tolerated I think resorting to a death penalty at the spot is a bit drastic. And as the people who are committing piracy are on the verge of starvation I doubt that it will stop them.

It is fairly easy to get aboard a yacht in the middle of the ocean even if you are equipped only with an open dinghy and a ladder but the fact that the pirates are getting aboard commercial ships tells me that the crew are not paying adequate attention. If they don't see an oncoming pirate skiff, will they see me when I am out sailing?

Evasive maneuvers and razor wire seems like a better alternative than killing people - even bad people.

Claus

Really? You think for a second (other than ransom) your life is worth anything to a pirate? They'd kill you in a flat second. The very least we can do is return the courtesy!

[bchaps]

Piracy should never be condoned amongst peaceful nations. If the Somalian Pirates by their actions are declaring war on all nations, then there can be no remorse or hand wringing when the consequences fall upon them. The current plight of Somalia will NEVER justify piracy.

I find it disheartening that Great Britain and the US would rather allow their citizens to be subjected to capture than risk censure for doing what is right and honorable. It appears only those nations who refuse to bow to world opinion are willing to take a stand. It is a very sad comment for nations claiming to stand for what is right and fair.

Bill

[sailingmonica]

Originally Posted by Pete7

If you are a starving fisherman with a family to feed are you going to sit on the beach because the local waters have been raped of fish for 2 decades or take your chances of a $45k share in a profitable hijack?

Pete

Are we really going to keep justifying every law breaking act? How does the fact that you have a family to feed make it OK to kidnap and kill people? Are we then going to extrapolate and say that it's OK to rob a bank because one has a drug addiction? Or that it's OK to rape a woman because one does not have a wife?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by sailingmonica

Are we really going to keep justifying every law breaking act?

Trust me I am not justifying there actions, just pointing out what is happening. Anyway we have discussed this at length already so I will bow out.

Pete

[Bloodhound]

As reported by BBC News BBC News - South Korea rescues Samho Jewelry crew from pirates

Hooray. Testicular Fortitude! The BALLS win !!!!!!!!!! Sure, it could have gone badly, but it didn't. It went well. If only that could be done 10 times in succession.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by apneseth

I must agree with Pete7.

Although piracy should not be tolerated I think resorting to a death penalty at the spot is a bit drastic. And as the people who are committing piracy are on the verge of starvation I doubt that it will stop them.

Evasive maneuvers and razor wire seems like a better alternative than killing people - even bad people.

Claus

History of piracy makes a great part of maritime history - and a lot of interesting reading. One thing is quite sure. Never ever in the history any means undertaken against piracy worked except sheer firepower and strict applying of the "Hang'em high" policy.
But it is not "politically correct", so we need to depend on Russians and South Koreans nowadays...