Somali pirates take Saudi oil tanker

[south]

Amazing. - You'd think with $100 million cargo, they might have an armed chopper or 2 around.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1119/p01s03-woaf.html

 

[Arrogance]

It's a shame this is becoming an almost daily occurrence in that part of the world.

Also seems like a Hong Kong vessel has been hijacked
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T332831.htm

But the HK haul pales in comparison to the Saudi tanker.
2 in 1 day????

 

[Gerry]

I and a couple partners are shipping two containers of donated medical supplies to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is a land locked country with a relatively stable government.

It is mostly bordered by Kenya and Somalia, both of which are very unstable.

Needless to say, we are concerned with the safety and security of the ship and the products ending up in the wrong hands.

 

[south]

I and a couple partners are shipping two containers of donated medical supplies to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is a land locked country with a relatively stable government.

It is mostly bordered by Kenya and Somalia, both of which are very unstable.

Needless to say, we are concerned with the safety and security of the ship and the products ending up in the wrong hands.

Kudos to you! Read your sig the other day, meant to praise your efforts. Great job, and good luck with your efforts!

 

[Gerry]

Kudos to you! Read your sig the other day, meant to praise your efforts. Great job, and good luck with your efforts!

Thanks. The reason for that post was to dispel any notion of racism or humor on my part.

I forget how many tons each container weighs so shipping by air was not feasible (if at all possible). A container is essentially the trailer of a big rig on the road.

 

[Poker]

Somali pirates take Saudi oil tanker

yesterday they were saying that it was the largest ship yet and the farthest out at sea, that's why they were caught by surprise...

 

[south]

yesterday they were saying that it was the largest ship yet and the farthest out at sea, that's why they were caught by surprise...

Yes, 450 miles out. Apparently they use old trawlers to carry smaller speedboats, and deploy the small boats when close to their target.

I'm really surprised they don't have military on the ships. Kill a few dozen of them and maybe they'll back off a bit. Then again, I suppose there are few other opportunities in Somalia, with little to lose & a great deal to gain.

Thanks. The reason for that post was to dispel any notion of racism or humor on my part.

I forget how many tons each container weighs so shipping by air was not feasible (if at all possible). A container is essentially the trailer of a big rig on the road.

Seriously, I find it very commendable, and wish you godspeed in your efforts. Thank YOU!

 

[HarveyJ]

Can't have military on a ship like that. The moment your guys are in another countries waters without authorization, it's considered an act of war.
You can get mercenary groups though, and there's a fair bit of money in it from what I'm told. I was on a cruise a couple years back where I noticed a boat tailing us on the horizon. I actually asked one of the staff, and they said it was their security vessel, hanging just out of radar range. I asked for more info, but all I got was it basically being a small private navy that they hire and that I was perfectly safe.
But yeah, I'm surprised that the ships didn't at least have an armoury and SOME trained in-house personnel aboard, considering the value of the cargo.

Then again, a ship carrying 31 tanks got jacked the other week. You'd think with tanks on board, they've have someone...

 

[Poker]

An Indian war ship sank the suspected pirate "mother ship" today in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats...

 

[draggar]

Go India's navy!!

 

[Gerry]

An Indian war ship sank the suspected pirate "mother ship" today in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats...

YeeHaw!!!!

Sink em all!

 

[TurNIC.com]

As a naval engineer I can say the total value of that VLCC is around $300 million. The ship which was manufactured by south koreans is a value of $150 million I believe and 300000 tons or 2 million barrel crude makes another $150 million. You can manage that size of ship with 25 crew and the all maritime system works on an assumption that seafarers are basically slaves and the important thibg is to use the ship as much as possible to carry cargo.

There are also a strategic mistakes done by military forcesin the last 20 years that threats are no more symetric i.e. some country have 100 pieces of destroyers frigates etc and you need to counter them with same tonnage etc. Threats are not for military targets anymore and they are asymetric. A small trawler or boat with a stern-mounted engine can be produced with a small money and it can go 30 to 40 knots and can approach a even the fastest (21 knots) Ro-Ro ships very easily. Then you just paste your time-triggered bomb on aboard of a ship and make them stop.

Last word is as Globalization and capitalism are dieng on the US and EU, maritime globalization and capitalismare also dieing.

 

[Poker]

- Associated Press -

A patrolling Indian navy frigate quickly identified the vessel as a "mother ship" and ordered it to stop and be searched.

"They responded on the offensive and said that they would blow up the Indian naval ship," Commander Nirad Sinha, a navy press officer, told reporters in New Delhi. Then the pirates opened fire.

Navy officials wouldn't say how long the battle Tuesday lasted, but the frigate, the INS Tabar, is a 400-foot war machine, carrying cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and six-barreled 30 mm machine guns for close combat, according to the Web site GlobalSecurity.org.

By the time the battle was over, the mother ship had sunk — the Indian gunfire sparked fires and a series of onboard blasts, possibly due to exploding ammunition — and the speedboats were racing into the darkness. One was later found abandoned. The other escaped.

 

[Gerry]

- Associated Press -
"They responded on the offensive and said that they would blow up the Indian naval ship," Commander Nirad Sinha, a navy press officer, told reporters in New Delhi. Then the pirates opened fire.

I think just the threat of action is justified in first strike. Today it is not prudent to wait for someone to take action - in other words, see if they will follow thru with that threat.

But to then fire at Indian vessel?

Hell, yes! Deep six them! send them to Davy Jones locker.

I hope for the same if medical cargo we are shipping to Ethiopia meets the same fate. Blast them out of existence.

 

[stewie]

The Pirates have been doing this for years...lots of things have been going on that we never hear about. Its scary actually... its not an easy problem to solve.. Imagine being on a boat and these guys come at you... they take out a lot of yachts and private boats too. Its actually hard to imagine!!!

Would be nice to see action taken against these thiefs...

 

[nameadvertising.com]

The pirates of Somalia made more money than "The Pirates of the Caribbean."

 

[Tia Wood]

I hope it isn't used as an excuse to raise gas prices again.

 

[Salient]

I hope it isn't used as an excuse to raise gas prices again.

Saudi Oil being stolen means US Taxpayers foot the bill.

 

[Gerry]

It is my understanding that this action did not involve the oil tanker.

Somali pirates are hold it for a $25 ransom.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27820573/
Somali pirates pocket at least $1.67 million
2 tankers released after payments to hijackers; U.N. backs arms sanctions

"Since seizing the Sirius Star oil tanker, pirates have hijacked at least three other ships, maritime officials say. The supertanker's owners are in ransom talks with the pirates who are reportedly demanding $25 million for its release.

The Saudi Arabian tanker was seized 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa, Kenya — far beyond the gangs' usual area of operations. It was believed to be anchored near Eyl, a former Somali fishing village that is now a well-defended pirate base."

 

[stewie]

The pirates of Somalia made more money than "The Pirates of the Caribbean."

ound: too funny, not as much $$$ and the merchandising isn't as good either ...LOL

but very funny

:yo: