American Owned Ship Detained in India

[Neil Mant]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24577190

[Paul Racine]

Neil
This is a very interesting story and it will be fun to learn more of what is going on as things develop. At first hearing and looking at the photo of the ship I was thinking that perhaps this was another African or Indian coup attempt gone wrong. Now it seems that it is some type of anti-pirate mother ship supplying armed personnel to merchant vessels in its sphere of activity. In any event there is big money associated with whatever is going on here. Check out the ship. Looks like a small navy vessel of some sort. 35 soldiers of fortune aboard, all probably armed with the best of modern equipment. I guess that since Black water no longer exists other big players have stepped in to take its place. There has to a lot of money to be made in this business. Still who can complain? The best pirate is one who has been blasted by these guys. Paul

[Ivan Cloherty]

Apparently the Indian Govt is not happy with this type of vessel, even though understanding its intended role, as four Indian fishermen were killed by a similar vessel when they were mistaken for pirates because they had a fast small dhow. It is alleged that they were shot by two ex members of the Italian SAS acting as security guards and the Indian Govt has an arrest warrant out for them. I believe the Italian Govt is refusing to extradite them at this time.

[j.sabourn]

Lets hope the Indian Government shows the same approach to Law and Order when the next Greenpeace ship claims port of refuge. I have seen ships in the North Sea heavily fined by bringing ashore passengers from the rigs and being over the stipulated amount licensed to carry. I am sure by the amount of so called bent celebrities these ships carry they are over the limit, that is if they do qualify for a passenger certificate in the first place. I still fail to see why these vessels are not detained when having to declare their next port of call and intentions. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Cheers John Sabourn

[alf corbyn]

with regards italian SAS shooting fishermen. if they had run in a straight line they would have been ok. everyone knows italians are lousy shots

[leratty]

Alf, what basis do you say that tongue in cheek or not some of their snipers are way up there from WW1 & 2 even on the Russian front (Stalingrad) the Germans used them for their accuracy? Recall there were some seriously capable as well as brave Italians at sea during WW2. What about the little 2 man subs they used to take in to Gib-Malta & their scuba divers were up there with the best too. Oh some of their pilots were pretty good too. One must wonder if their heart was really in WW2? Yes there are some not too kindly photos of them in the 100's in the desert being led into captivity with just one or two armed allied guards, but then Singapore et al was not proud picture either you would have to agree folding to a much inferior in No's force out manoeuvred & thought? No I do not have Italian ancestry though do love the country, people, food, way of life. After all it is said they are lovers not fighters maybe not so way back in the Roman times though (:

[Ivan Cloherty]

I know we all take the pizz out of the Italians in their war situations with a propensity to change sides mid conflict. As Leratty mentioned there are exceptions such as the two manned submarines etc, as with all nations there are very brave individuals, and I take my hat off to the Italian police and navy divers who did not hesitate to immediately enter the interior of the Costa C to search for survivors, even though they knew at that time that the vessel was semi stable and could have slipped off the edge at any time with escape impossible themselves.