Rival 38 'Lynn Rival' EPIRB Activated - No Information

[idpnd]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Of course no guarantee that the hostages would emerge unscathed, but if I was sitting onboard a captured yacht I would settle for a fighting chance.......a strange world where if I was in those circumstances I would prefer anyone but the RN to be steaming over the horizon.

I think this is what happens when you watch too many Hollywood movies. Remember what happened last time they got into the cowboy nonsense.. I'd rather be a live hostage than, well, dead

[Jamel]

Kidnapped British yacht couple fear they could be killed 'within a week'

The British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates fear they will be killed within a week unless British officials open negotiations with their captors.



By Murray Wardrop
Published: 6:00PM GMT 20 Nov 2009

Paul and Rachel Chandler fear they could be killed within a week Photo: C4


In their first video appearance since they were seized from their yacht in the Indian Ocean last month, Paul and Rachel Chandler said their kidnappers were “losing patience”.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Jamel

The British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates fear they will be killed within a week unless British officials open negotiations with their captors.

Well that will really help to Somalis... kill their hostages LOL I'm sure negotiations would then proceed.

Then the navys would have to do something when they capture pirates instead of the gutlessness shown thus far.

[Jamel]

Hi Mark,
It makes you wonder if the navy had acted in the first instance, ie when they were 50 metres away, this whole sorry saga would not have to be played out! Gutless, yes, but who was calling the shots? Some faceless shiney bum in Whitehall UK, far removed form action of any kind other than traffic rush hour going home to his comfy country home for a gin & tonic!

[Jamel]

NOONSITE REPORT:Passage from Indian Ocean via Red Sea to Europe - Extremely Unsafe

Created by sue. Last modified on 2009-11-20 23:00:20
Topic: Piracy Reports 2009
Countries: Somalia

This message was sent to noonsite by Richard Donaldson-Alves, Net Controller of the Mobile Maritime Net SE Asia.
For some years I have been involved in assisting the annual passage of cruising yachts to make passage from the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea to Europe at the end of December.
The very recent tactical methods of operating by Pirates from Somalia have meant that it is extremely unsafe for Sail Boats to undertake this voyage. In that, the pirates are now consistently opening fire directly at ships prior to and during the attempt to board, hijack and take hostages.
Below is a summary of 18 REPORTED incidents of Piracy occurring between the 2nd and 18th of this month (November 2009) - although coalition forces were informed in 3 or 4 of them - there is no report of warships actually engaging the pirates during the attacks.
Merchant ships were able to use their speed and freeboard to deter boarding in most of the attacks - cruising sail boats have no such inherent methods of evasion.
Unless a sailboat is capable of at least 15 knots with a freeboard of at least 6 metres - the boat and crew are sitting ducks, their next destination could very well be a mud hut in Somalia!
No Skipper should put his crew or family in harms way,
The risk is there and is too apparent..
Regards
Richard

It's a great shame that this route to the Med is now very dangerous, so many cultures to experience throughout.

[GordMay]

Paul and Rachel Chandler, the British couple who have been held hostage by Somali pirates for more than four months, could be free within days, according to Professor Mohamed Omar Dalha, deputy speaker of the Somali Parliament.

More ➥ British couple held by Somali pirates ‘could be freed in days’ – Somali Breaking News & Video Community

[Dale]

That would be great. It sounds like they have gone through a tough ordeal.

Too bad their captors can't meet their creator sooner, rather than later.

[Laidback]

Report from Harardhere, Somalia 6am 14th March 2010

Harardhere, (RBC Radio) A pirate source in Somalia had said Rachel Chandler, one of British couple held by pirates is wounded with a bullet from pirate’s gun.

A pirate spokesman called Ali Gedow in Harardhere, the main hub of Somali pirates where the couples are kept hostage had confirmed after he had a phone contact to Ahmed Mohammed, Somaliland parliament member.

“I can confirm that Mrs. Chandler was wounded with a small bullet from one of the pirate’s gun”, the pirate had told to Ahmed Mohammed, Somaliland parliament member who had a direct contact with this case since the couples were kidnapped.

Ahmed Mohamed (known as nacnac) is prominent Somaliland parliament member in Hargeisa and he told that pirate spokesman had contacted him late Saturday afternoon. He said that the pirate spokesman told he could not confirm whether Mrs. Chandler had died but he is assure she is wounded.

“He did not want to say why she was wounded, but he said to me he will tell more later”, the parliament member told RBC Radio.

The British embassy in Nairobi had been informed in this case but there is no any response yet.

The British couple held hostage by Somali pirates have been recently reunited after weeks of separation. The pirates are still demanding a £1.4m ransom for the Chandlers,

Paul Chandler, 60, and wife Rachel, 57 were seized from their yacht on October 22 last year.

[GordMay]

On Monday March 8/10, a doctor who treated the Chandlers, claimed they had been temporarily reunited. The Chandlers have been held at different locations since January. They’re among at least 130 sailors being held captive in Somalia. No mention was made of any gunshot wounds.
☞ Somali doctor: British yacht couple reunited | Save The Chandlers

Unconfirmed RBC Radio* report of Rachel’s “wounding”
☞ Somali Pirates Source Says One of British Couple Held Hostage Injured | RBC Radio

* Web-site for Somali news and information in the Somali coumunity around the world.

[Laidback]

Hi Gord,
Pinch of sea salt as to most of the reports coming out of that hell hole.