"Pirates" off Gibraltar

[B23iL23]

So a German couple on a Lagoon 42 in the Gulf of Cadiz on route to Gib was intercepted by two ribs which tried to board them. Looks like the rough seas , slick helm work and a good boat hook kept them at bay.

A call on the VHF brought a Spanish coastguard helicopter there in 10 minutes which chased off the ribs to the African coast.

I've never heard of any problems this close to Gib or the Spanish coast but times are a changing. Might well be the new normal.

https://www.yacht.de/aktuell/panoram...DXog_5gp-xTgwU

[chrisr]

crickee !

lucky the buggers weren't armed and well done to the spanish coast guard to get there so quickly

yet another thing to worry about...

cheers,

[mikedefieslife]

I've sailed that route, scary to think about it. Especially considering the millions of lobster pots even more 12nm off the coast. Means manoeuvrability is restricted at times. Can't see it being a common occurrence though considering the Spanish military presence in Cadiz.

[Franziska]

What is worry some, is that the article states that some high powered ribs had been surveying the anchorage which they departed already last year.
So it's maybe not a one off. The scariest would be hostage taking.

I am all for helping refugees, especially those in unseaworthy boats. We have a humane duty there.

But these sort of thugs should get a very resolute answer. Shame that it's not possible to shoot at them when they try to escape.

Not good.

[redneckrob]

Originally Posted by Franziska

What is worry some, is that the article states that some high powered ribs had been surveying the anchorage which they departed already last year.
So it's maybe not a one off. The scariest would be hostage taking.

I am all for helping refugees, especially those in unseaworthy boats. We have a humane duty there.

But these sort of thugs should get a very resolute answer. Shame that it's not possible to shoot at them when they try to escape.

Not good.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been shooting out engine blocks of drug go-fasts from helicopters for 20 years now. Definitely possible to disable them with non-lethal gunfire when they try to escape. If it keeps happening I'm guessing the Spanish will start equipping and training for it. Between Spain and the African Spanish enclaves they've got a pretty vested interest in that little patch of water.

[barnakiel]

Drug dealers. Mistook the cat for a boat that was to offload the cargo.

They go up the Gudalquivir and offload in the rice-fields.


I may be wrong, but it sounds like a stupid mistake by the traffickers. Perhaps there were two cats in that anchorage and the other one had the cargo they were after.


Another option is they hugged the cat to remain off the radars. That's a common practice. The military looking at the AIS, they see a proper German cat. But just next to it powers a rib loaded with hash. The rib has no AIS and the cat blocks the radar echo.


Normal tricks in those waters. You have clearly never navigated the Guadalquivir, eh?


Run to African coast because they know a Spanish heli will not follow.



barnakiel

[Franziska]

Hey Barnie, interesting take on this.

But does the shadowing you describe happen in bright daylight?

Would it not be the other way round? Why would the cat be the boat with their stuff? Would it not be more likely that they want to offload their drugs onto the cat than? In that case I could see a mixup.
Still, why would they try several times once they see that the cat doesn't want them and as such shows that it's not their transport.

And btw. When I said shooting at the thugs when the flee, I mean the coast guard should be allowed to shoot from their chopper.
Only them and only to disable the fleeing RIB.

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Drug dealers. Mistook the cat for a boat that was to offload the cargo.

They go up the Gudalquivir and offload in the rice-fields.


I may be wrong, but it sounds like a stupid mistake by the traffickers. Perhaps there were two cats in that anchorage and the other one had the cargo they were after.


Another option is they hugged the cat to remain off the radars. That's a common practice. The military looking at the AIS, they see a proper German cat. But just next to it powers a rib loaded with hash. The rib has no AIS and the cat blocks the radar echo.


Normal tricks in those waters. You have clearly never navigated the Guadalquivir, eh?


Run to African coast because they know a Spanish heli will not follow.



barnakiel

[B_Hunter45]

is one allowed to shoot individuals who try to board without permission, not when they escape, when they actually try to board?

[Franziska]

Thankfully not in Europe, and especially not as a private citizen.
Still, I think law enforcement should have the option to stop fleeing pirates by all means.

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

is one allowed to shoot individuals who try to board without permission, not when they escape, when they actually try to board?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Drug dealers. Mistook the cat for a boat that was to offload the cargo.

They go up the Gudalquivir and offload in the rice-fields.


I may be wrong, but it sounds like a stupid mistake by the traffickers. Perhaps there were two cats in that anchorage and the other one had the cargo they were after.


Another option is they hugged the cat to remain off the radars. That's a common practice. The military looking at the AIS, they see a proper German cat. But just next to it powers a rib loaded with hash. The rib has no AIS and the cat blocks the radar echo.


Normal tricks in those waters. You have clearly never navigated the Guadalquivir, eh?


Run to African coast because they know a Spanish heli will not follow.



barnakiel

The hiding behind a recognised radar target is/has been used by aircraft as well, a military jet tucked up under the wing of a commercial jet whilst transiting european airspace has been known to happen.

[B23iL23]

No thankfully. You'd probably end up doing a very long stint in a prison somewhere for that.

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

is one allowed to shoot individuals who try to board without permission, not when they escape, when they actually try to board?

[250224]

Originally Posted by Franziska

I am all for helping refugees, especially those in unseaworthy boats. We have a humane duty there.

Talking is easy... But you (personally) wouldn't pay for the 30 K€/migrant per year which it costs and, likely, don't face the cultural havoc it causes (Have a look a Sweden and Danemark and how they (are forced to) change their immigration politics, even supported by socialist parties.

The german migration policy fuels criminal human traffic organisations in those seas [1] and also causes deaths because people go out in unseaworthy dinghies (have a look at the numbers in Australia after they got more strict/sane).

I know you are german and knowing the german press I kindly ask that you inform yourself thoroughly before writing phrases like "We have a humane duty there". E.g. you (Germany) wouldn't be happy/able to provide "humane duty" to 500+ million people (which would be interested to migrate according to studies). Thanks.

No intention to become too offtopic, but I see a (possible) relation between human traffic, drug smuggling and piracy. Why not branch out if you are already not following the law?

[1]: (from the yacht magazin) Neben Schlepperbanden, die versuchen, Migranten aus Afrika an die spanische Südküste zu bringen, sei das Seegebiet auch ein Hotspot des internationalen Drogenschmuggels.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by B23iL23

No thankfully. You'd probably end up doing a very long stint in a prison somewhere for that.

Well only if you report it

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by B23iL23

No thankfully. You'd probably end up doing a very long stint in a prison somewhere for that.

Who is even going to catch you? LOL

You are on your own at sea.

[B23iL23]

Years back a cruiser in the med waved a weapon when he didn't like how close another fishing boat got to him. Didn't fire the weapon but it was not declared.

Couple of days later he was visited, a search done, a hand gun recovered. He spent some time in prison, his yacht was confiscated and sold off, he was put on a customs/immigration watch list, and he was kicked out of the country when they were done with him.

Your right to bear arms stops at YOUR countrys' 12 mile limit.

Originally Posted by Chotu

Who is even going to catch you? LOL

You are on your own at sea.