Defence against Somali Pirates.

[peter jacobs]

Hi Jim,

Thank you for your imformative response,

I would agree with the Ex Royal Marine comments, however many vessels are different in terms of speed, free board etc, so alot of vessels transiting our East Coast of Southern Africa are in real danger and need effective protection as a result of limited naval assistance from East African countries, only South Africa has sent a frigate to conduct active patrols.

i look forward to see the LDS100 in action, i will defnately give it a try with a Semi-auto weapon close by just in case.

regards

Peter Jacobs

[Jim Brady]

This is from an artical that I read in yesterdays paper.
(Quote)Scientists have invented a laser gun that can destroy Somali pirates' boats.
The ship mounted beam set the engines of a boat on fire when tested by the US navy last week.
The Office of Naval Research who invented the weapon,says it can hit targets "miles" away and it's strength can be .set from "lethal to stun".
Somali pirate attacks in the Pacific Ocean have become increasingly violent in recent months.(unquote)
Do Somali pirates do their trade in the Pacific?
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Ivan Cloherty]

This is from an artical that I read in yesterdays paper.
(Quote)Scientists have invented a laser gun that can destroy Somali pirates' boats.
The ship mounted beam set the engines of a boat on fire when tested by the US navy last week.
The Office of Naval Research who invented the weapon,says it can hit targets "miles" away and it's strength can be .set from "lethal to stun".
Somali pirate attacks in the Pacific Ocean have become increasingly violent in recent months.(unquote)
Do Somali pirates do their trade in the Pacific?
Regards.
Jim.B.

Yesterday The President of BIMCO (an organisation set up in 1905 to protect shipping interests and seafarers) has asked Masters of all ships worldwide to sound their sirens at noon (LMT) for 30 seconds everyday until governments world wide start taking this piracy problem seriously, the general public will start asking why the sirens are being sounded ( most of them will think pirates are romantic souls like Johnny Depp). This may make them aware that their cost of living is affected (upwards) by this piracy

He also praised the robust way that Asian Navies are dealing with pirates, by sinking their skiffs and mother vessels, arresting the pirates and at the same castigated the western navies for their "silk glove" (his words) approach to handling pirates by just giving them their boats back and just dumping their weapons.

In fact one western navy support vessel, is said to have given the pirates medical exams, cigarettes and in one case nicotine patches to one pirate who wanted to give up smoking before their release !!!!!!!!, all this apparently on the instruction of that ship's government. Guess which Govt, yes that's right an island nation obsessed with yuman rites and elf n safty.

Lets hope that the Masters of ships of all nations have the courage to sound their sirens as requested

Ivan

[alf corbyn]

This is from an artical that I read in yesterdays paper.
(Quote)Scientists have invented a laser gun that can destroy Somali pirates' boats.
The ship mounted beam set the engines of a boat on fire when tested by the US navy last week.
The Office of Naval Research who invented the weapon,says it can hit targets "miles" away and it's strength can be .set from "lethal to stun".
Somali pirate attacks in the Pacific Ocean have become increasingly violent in recent months.(unquote)
Do Somali pirates do their trade in the Pacific?
Regards.
Jim.B.

jim. ilike the american idea for dealing with the pirates, but why the hell would they need a stun setting? alf

[Jim Brady]

It is a fact that the problem is not taken seriously enough by the various Governments around the world.
The problem could be sorted out if more effort was put into it and a concerted plan was put into operation by all concerned.It is a well known fact that where armed guards are on board the ship it is more likely tobe left alone,and in fact in the past number of years no ship with armed guards aboard have been targetted.
The problem is,the carrying of arms and the transferring the guards from the ship ashore for them to pick up another ship on the return journey.Also you have the problem of Corporate Manslaughter,if a pirate was shot and killed by an armed guard could the head of the company be brought to task for his murder,it's a very complicated business putting armed guards aboard a ship.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Peter Trodden]

I was on a cable ship 1991/92. We were laying Tele-cable from the Philippines to Brunei and at the time there were numerous attacts on ships in the South China sea. Although our cargo(miles of sub-sea cable) would have been a bit awkward for pirates to handle,they were attacking all types of vessels just for the cash in the ships safe and personal efects of the crew. The very nature of our job ment slow steamin,plus a low freeboard made us look an easy mark. Leaving Batangas and down the coast of Palawan Island we had our deck crew patroling duing the night armed with pick-axe handles The hoses were layed out and a man standing by the Fire pump. At the Southern Tip of Palawan we were met by a Gunboat from Brunei with 50 Malaysian Marines onboard. Every day the Gunboat would stream a buoy astern,then open up and shoot it to bits.They steamed about half a mile abeam for the rest of the job. When we neared Brunei a millitary 'Chopper came out every day and did a sweep of the area. The Sultan,as you know is a rich and powerful man who was protecting His assets. Now if all the countries and shipping companies opperating in dangerous waters acted the same way with a show of armed force and do some shooting instead of talking they would protect thier ships and CREWS. I know it will cost mega-bucks, but what of the MILLIONs thats payed in Ransoms. It has to be a collective effort by all parties
ttfn.Peter T.

[Captain Kong]

This is one way I dealt with a pirate in 1960, off th coast of Java, it is from my chapter in the `Slow Boat To China ` thread......................

"
We did many ports around the islands, from Singapore, Tanjong Priok, Tegal, Semerang, Surabaya, Macasser, Wallace Bay, Sandakan, Tawau, Probalingo, Kutching, Balikpapan, Bali, Ujung, Balitung, Molucca, Padang, Belawan, Sabang, Sumbawa, Brunei, Sarawak, and many others some without a name. A lot of these ports were anchor ports, and we had to keep a Pirate watch every day and night. At night we would have two AB.s one patrolling on either side of the ship watching for small boats trying to come alongside., we had light clusters over the side around the ship so canoes could be seen. One night anchored off Semerang, around 2 am I was down aft by Number 5 hatch when I heard a clunk amidships, I walked for`ard with a ten ton shackle in my hand. There was a native just climbing over the rails by Number 4 hatch just abaft the accommodation on the port side. A grapelling hook was hanging off the rails, I ran up and hit him on the right temple with the shackle and he fell back into the sea. I looked over the side and just saw a ring of ripples and bubbles and a canoe with one man in disappearing into the darkness. I didn`t think they would come back again. I shouted to Ted to get the stand by man to get the Captain and report the incident. He came down and had a look around and then complemented me on the action. These Pirates can sneak on board and cut peoples throats in their bunks and steal anything they can. It is and still is a big problem in those waters."