Pirates in somalia

[Tony Wilding]

British special forces storm hijacked ship, bbc news 1400.

[Gulliver]

Thanks for that Tony.
It's the brand new (2011) Italian Bulk Carrier m.v.MONTECRISTO (55,675 dwt)

REUTERS NEWS HERE

[Tony Wilding]

Lets hope the tide is changing, about time they learn piracy does not pay, it has gone on too long.

[Captain Kong]

I wonder how long it will be before the Italian Judical System fast track the Pirates to England and then get a council house, car, Sky TV and a few bob spending money every week, more than my State Pension that I paid for, and human rights lawyers making a fortune at our expence out of it. Then after a few months they then get all their wives and children to come over to the Promised Land, Yippee we are in Paradise.

Cheers
Brian back in the third world.

[Tony Wilding]

THINK OF THE FUN WE COULD HAVE WITH A FAST WELL ARMED PATROL BOAT, 50 CALIBRE MACHINE GINS AND RPG,s , MAYBE A BOFOS FOR GOOD LUCK, JUST BLOCKADE THERE PORTS , GET THE LEAVING AND COMING BACK, IF THE ODDS STACK AGAINST THEM IT WOULD SOON END.

[Jim Brady]

Some time ago I posted on here re;razor wire and the crew retreating to a citadel.This was the method used by the crew on this ship and I'm glad to see that it was a success.Obviously the rescue party coming aboard knew that the crew were not in any danger from the pirates.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Bill Cameron]

an update with pictures

http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/1871

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates' the head of the world maritime group for seaman an indain Captain was on the radio talking about all the seaman who are imprision by somalia pirates from non E.U countries They are abandon by the shipping owners and dumped by they governments some seaman have been on the shps for 8 months to over 2 years Thats what happens to cheap labour today ? like the war years the ship owners stop they pay? They only care about the cargo/profit.

[Tony Wilding]

its really disgusting no country will assist them just left to rot, innocent men mostly low paid, trying to earn a living, there families suffering through no fault of there own, makes you lose faith in humanity, cant imagine what they think of in captivity, must have lost all hope by now, hard to believe it can happen in 2012, but thats the world we now live in.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Tony I know it may not help those already in captivity, but Underwriters have been working behind the scenes (and are continuing to do so) to bring in a piracy contingency fund, where-in any insured vessel captured by Pirates and deserted by the owners the crews' families will receive Allotment Notes. They are trying to weed out these owners, but find it very difficult but they are starting to refuse to Insure/Underwrite ships and will not Insure or Underwrite any cargo that is carried on an uninsured ship and have and are contacting shippers and receivers to this effect.

Of course there will always be those unscrupulous shipowners who will avoid the net and shippers who are willing to take the risk of shipping their goods on uninsured vessels who will be able to offer cheaper freight rates, but we should hopefully see the beginning of a decline in these malpractices. The Missions to Seamen do try to contact various Insurance Companies if they come across these renegade owners and unfortunate crews. We can only hope that there is a continuing will to succeed in eradicating these unscrupulous practices.

The Underwriters are also considering what they can do to help those (and their families) who are held in captivity even though they did not Underwrite the ships and cargoes, so we must live in hope, because business people do think of the fate of these people, it may not be for altrauristic purposes but merely because they realise that ships cannot traverse the world without crews (yet)