Piracy off the coast of Somalia is getting worse and serious steps should be taken to counter it.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia is getting serious. Even the supply of video games for the Christmas season may be in danger. Should this happen, more attention may well be paid to the problem.…
Article comments
26 - Deano
Sorry Chris, didn't mean to inconvience you. thought I had fixed that.
I shall give myself a good keelhauling (in keeping with the buccaneer spirit of the post).
FYI, I am still 'maintaining' my site, just not posting new reviews on it for the last two years due to an ongoing book project which is consuming most of my miniscule free writing time.
27 - STM
The incident with the Tabar shows that the pirates have no regard whatsoever for human life. They were using the captured Thai ship as a base of operations (a mothership), had been identified as having done so, and firing on a warship challenging is a surefire way to get sunk.
Most of the motherships are hijacked merchant vessels, sadly. Although tragic, the Indians reacted properly in the circumstances after being fired upon.
As for the dhow that fired on the British Marines in the rigids, that also just shows the pirates complete idiots who've become deluded by the feeling of power and invincibility they're getting from these hijackings.
Unluckily for them, the RN changed its rules of engagement recently in regard to boarding Naval Parties being fired upon to allow for more robust action like that of the commandos the other week.
Good on 'em. I hope they get a few more and word gets around, and I hope the USN joins in with this new spirit of robustness as the peripheral commerical damage caused by the prates will ultimately affect the US as Deano points out in increased insurance premiums, lost oil shipments worth millions and an encouragement to other pirates in places like the Malacca Straits, where there have been a number of incidents.
It's the only way the situation is going to be resolved because it won't be resolved on land. We've been there before in Somalia, remember??
As the human cost is now starting to become a real issue too, I expect the task force up there to change the way it operates and to put an end to it once and for all.
28 - Christopher Rose
Thanks Deano and good luck with your book.
29 - Dan(Miller)
Here is a report of another attack by the Pirates of Somalia. This time the ship, a chemical tanker, had a security guard on board. However, according to the report,
Perhaps a strong security force of more than three guards is needed.Dan(Miller)
30 - Dave Nalle
Another report? Hell, pirates are currently holding something over 100 vessels in the region, and they don't just operate out of Somalia.
The only way to get this under control is to put pressure on local governments to not provide them safe haven ports. So long as they have places they can hide out it's going to be impossible to stop them.
Dave
31 - Dan(Miller)
Dave, I realize that the pirates are holding lots of ships hostage. The salient point in the comment was that the three security guards jumped overboard, and that stronger security forces are needed.
It is, of course, possible that not all of the pirates are based in Somalia. Based on what I have read, however, most of them are, and they are the ones causing the big problem. As you know, Somalia does not have an effective government and the likelihood that it will in the near future seems to be minuscule. Therefore, to put pressure on local governments to not provide them safe haven ports does not appear to be an effective way to deal with the problem.
Dan(Miller)
32 - Dave Nalle
A nautural extension of my point would be to insure that Somalia GET an effective government which can control its ports.
Dave
33 - Dan(Miller)
Dave,
That would be very nice. However, it is my understanding that the United States is no longer in the stable-government-creation business, and I don't know of any other country, besides perhaps Russia or China, likely to take up the slack.
That, I am afraid, leaves Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, assisted by the Tooth Fairy, in charge.
Dan(Miller)
34 - Clavos
That, I am afraid, leaves Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, assisted by the Tooth Fairy, in charge.
Oh, no! Who's gonna bring all the toys??
35 - Dan(Miller)
Who's gonna bring all the toys? China will be more than happy to take care of that.
Dan(Miller)
36 - Deano
In case anyone is interested, the ICC has a Google Maps Piracy Incident tracking tool. it can be found at:
ICC Pirate Tracking