Again piracy in the Caribbean

[s/v Jedi]

Another one for the list of cases. Fully automatic weapons this time.

[Simi 60]

Is there actual international waters between Aruba and Venezuela being around 15nm across?

If not, technically not piracy

The act is referred to as 'piracy' when it occurred in international waters or outside the jurisdiction of any state, whereas it is called 'armed robbery at sea' when it occurred inside territorial waters or internal waters.

https://www.maritimeglobalsecurity.o...ernal%20waters.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Another one for the list of cases. Fully automatic weapons this time.

that has always been a risky stretch of water. For decades and decades. not the smartest place to go through.

It’s kind of like this story from the other day.

https://nypost.com/2023/10/03/distur...yc-street/amp/

Man was walking around with his girlfriend at 4 AM in Bed-Stuy. even at lunchtime in the middle of the day it’s pretty risky.


I witnessed what I think was a pretty incredible drug operation in that area.

Large, fast power boat came and docked in Bonaire. It came in the morning. It was like a Sunseeker 70 type of thing. I forget exactly the boat model. But then, an identical boat came in and docked right next to it. They quickly moved large crates from one boat to the other, then both boats took off and left. And when I say large crates I mean a lot of quantity of things. Tons. They used dollies. When they left, they both went off in opposite directions. These boats were identical down to the name on them.

[5BTM]

Aproximate value of a Leopard 45 is between $500K and $800K
Per capita income in Venezuela is less that $2K/year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XL2QNKHFAI&t=4s

[Kinkircating]

Yikes! We did a stop over in Aruba in June on our way to Panama aboard our friend’s catamaran. About a day after leaving we are about 130nm offshore and I’m downstairs taking a shower and looking out the window and see a skiff about 2-3 miles off heading directly for us. My mind immediately went to, well this might not be good.

They then went behind us in our wake but kept 1-2 mile distance, followed about 10 minutes then turned and headed farther out to sea thank the baby Jesus. We’re probably fishermen part of a mother ship, but still got the blood pressure up knowing the area we were in.

[h20man]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Is there actual international waters between Aruba and Venezuela being around 15nm across?

If not, technically not piracy

There are different definitions of piracy.. The one I have heard is "Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, vessels used for piracy are pirate ships."


I suspect that if it happens to you, you shall not give a damn if it was in international or coastal waters. NOT A GOOD THING. NOT JUSTIFIABLE.


I confess I am a bit stunned at your comment...

[h20man]

@Simi 60 .
After your definition... I did look up piracy.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary online: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dic...english/piracy

piracy
piracy
noun [ U ]
uk
/ˈpaɪ.rə.si/ us
/ˈpaɪr.ə.si/
piracy noun [U] (SHIPS)

the act of attacking ships in order to steal from them:

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Is there actual international waters between Aruba and Venezuela being around 15nm across?

If not, technically not piracy

This has to be about the most worthless sub-thread discussion I have ever seen... It goes right on past "pedantic*" without stopping and all the way out to pompous abstruseness. Or maybe it's just a joke I don't get...

* PEDANTIC:
adjective
1. ostentatious in one's learning.
2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms

[TeddyDiver]

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" not that pirates smell roses but who cares what they are called when they just plain rob you?

[s/v Jedi]

Pirates have a flair of romance, apparently driven by female fantasies (never knew that but makes so much sense when thinking about the movies etc.) which is completely undeserved as they are the most devious criminals and murderers out there. Ruthless.

But they get whitewashed nonetheless

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Pirates have a flair of romance, apparently driven by female fantasies (never knew that but makes so much sense when thinking about the movies etc.) which is completely undeserved as they are the most devious criminals and murderers out there. Ruthless.

But they get whitewashed nonetheless

A Hollywood speciality..

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by boatman61

A Hollywood speciality..

Yes it’s a Beauty and the Beast thing and she taming the beast

Wouldn’t work on us though because we’re free birds and cannot be tamed

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Yes it’s a Beauty and the Beast thing and she taming the beast

Wouldn’t work on us though because we’re free birds and cannot be tamed

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Is there actual international waters between Aruba and Venezuela being around 15nm across?

If not, technically not piracy

The OP does not state that they were between Aruba and Venezuela; it only states that they were forced into Venezuelan waters. Perhaps they were west of Aruba en route to Panama in international waters. We don't know.


The entire area is known to be dangerous and it is a judgment call how far away from the coast of Venezuela to remain. The alternative route from St. Lucia would be the northerly one via Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. It is longer and also imperfect from a security standpoint.


Sad for the crew to have to go through that.

[Mr. Kevin]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Pirates have a flair of romance, apparently driven by female fantasies (never knew that but makes so much sense when thinking about the movies etc.) which is completely undeserved as they are the most devious criminals and murderers out there. Ruthless.

But they get whitewashed nonetheless

When I was a much younger man, I did some boardings behind what pirates had left. Still makes me see red. People, even children, who did no wrong often as not slaughtered.

I think he is referring to the definition in SOLAS. That said, that definition was meant for the purpose of that Convention, not to describe priacy in total. Piracy, like murderers, are as old as there have been people on the water. It is very sad.