Score one for the USA Navy Seals

[angus63]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Gentleman..... the action is exactly what I expected. I know the Seals did their job as required. I feel for them knowing what they are going through today. It is part of the job that people train for but hope they never have to put into action.

I am glad they got Cpt Phillips back (VT needs ever person we have ) I hope we do not have to resort to that action again.

Couldn't be happier that CAPT Phillips is safe!

Unfortunately Bob, the problem continues. Below is an emergency transmission issued by a US company to it's vessels this morning.

14/04/2009 12.43 GMT (given as DD/MM/YY)
Pirate Attack
SOMALI BASIN(0216 N,04738 E)
--- WARNING WARNING WARNING ---

[FONT='Arial Black','sans-serif']At 1117 UTC a merchant vessel is currently under attack by 3 skiffs in 0216 N, 04738 E[/FONT]


It is recommended that all vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia, Kenya or Tanzania keep as far from the Somali coast as possible. MSCHOA now advise that vessels should consider maintaining a distance of more than 600 nautical miles from the coastline and when routing north/south consider keeping East of 60E Longitude until East of the Seychelles.

All vessels transiting the area and not able to keep 600 nm off the Somali coast are advised not to approach closer than 100 nm from the position given in this report and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously.

While navigating in the region vessels are urged to operate at a heightened state of readiness, maintaining strict 24 hour anti-piracy visual and radar watches, actively implement recommended anti-piracy measures and regularly report their position/course/speed to UKMTO.

Merchant vessels are requested to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO Dubai (+97 1505523215 ?[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']ukmto@eim.ae[/FONT]) or IMB PRC (+60 320310014 ? [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']imbkl@icc-ccs.org[/FONT]/ [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']piracy@icc-ccs.org[/FONT][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']).[/FONT]Reports can also be relayed to MSCHOA ([FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']opscentre@mschoa.org[/FONT][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']).[/FONT]

14/04/2009 12.13 GMT
Attempted Attack
SOMALI BASIN(0339 S,04823 E)
---WARNING WARNING WARNING---

[FONT='Arial Black','sans-serif']At 1025UTC a merchant vessel was under attack by 2 skiffs in position 0339 S, 04823 E.[/FONT]

Vessel is now safe. EUNAVFOR has responded to the distress call by sending military asset.

It is recommended that all vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia, Kenya or Tanzania keep as far from the Somali coast as possible. MSCHOA now advise that vessels should consider maintaining a distance of more than 600 nautical miles from the coastline and when routing north/south consider keeping East of 60E Longitude until East of the Seychelles.

All vessels transiting the area and not able to keep 600 nm off the Somali coast are advised not to approach closer than 100 nm from the position given in this report and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously.

While navigating in the region vessels are urged to operate at a heightened state of readiness, maintaining strict 24 hour anti-piracy visual and radar watches, actively implement recommended anti-piracy measures and regularly report their position/course/speed to UKMTO.

Merchant vessels are requested to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO Dubai (+97 1505523215 ?[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']ukmto@eim.ae[/FONT]) or IMB PRC (+60 320310014 ? [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']imbkl@icc-ccs.org[/FONT] / [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']piracy@icc-ccs.org[/FONT][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']).[/FONT]Reports can also be relayed to MSCHOA ([FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']opscentre@mschoa.org[/FONT][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']).[/FONT]

14/04/2009 00.12 GMT
Pirate Attack
Gulf of Aden(12 52N,048 15E)
[FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']---WARNING WARNING WARNING---[/FONT]

[FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']At [/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']2350 UTC[/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif'] a merchant vessel is currently under attack by pirates in position 12 52N 048 15E.[/FONT]

[FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']Small weapons were fired.[/FONT]

[FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']While navigating in the region vessels are urged to operate at a heightened state of readiness, maintaining strict 24 hour anti-piracy visual and radar watches, actively implement recommended anti-piracy measures and regularly report their position/course/speed to UKMTO.[/FONT]

[FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']Merchant vessels are requested to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO Dubai (+97 1505523215 ? [/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']ukmto@eim.ae[/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']) or IMB PRC (+60 320310014 ? [/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']imbkl@icc-ccs.org[/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']/ [/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']piracy@icc-ccs.org[/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']).[/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']Reports can also be relayed to MSCHOA ([/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']opscentre@mschoa.org[/FONT][FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']).[/FONT]

DRUM CUSSAC:

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Two Egyptian Fishing Boats Hijacked[/FONT]

​

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Monday, 13 April 2009[/FONT]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday, 13 April, that pirates had hijacked two Egyptian fishing boats off the coast of Somaliland, close to the village of Las Qoray. Each vessel had 18 to 24 crew members on board at the time of the incidents. No further information is available on the incidents at the time of this report. [/FONT]

​

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Norwegian Tanker Released[/FONT]

​

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Monday, 13 April, 2009[/FONT]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']MT Bow Asir, the Norwegian tanker that had been captured by Somali pirates approximately 400 kilometers off Somalia on 26 March, had been released by pirates. All 27 crew members, comprising of nationals from Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia and Lithuania, were unhurt and the vessel arrived at Mombasa harbor in Kenya on Monday, 13 April. Approximately two weeks earlier, the MT Bow Asir had been seized by 16 to 18 pirates brandishing machine guns. Norwegian shipowner, Salhus Shipping AS, has not commented on whether any ransom was paid for the release of the crew and tanker.[/FONT]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] [[/FONT]​

12/04/2009 06.40 GMT
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Undeterred Somali pirates hijack 3 more ships[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY and PAULINE JELINEK ? [/FONT][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']2 hours ago[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']MOMBASA[/FONT][FONT='Arial','sans-serif'], Kenya (AP) ? Undeterred by U.S. and French hostage rescues that killed seven bandits, Somali pirates brazenly hijacked three more ships in the Gulf of Aden, the key waterway that's become the focal point of the world's fight against piracy.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The latest trophy for the pirates was the M.V. Irene E.M., a Greek-managed bulk carrier sailing from the Middle East to South Asia, said Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The Irene was attacked and seized in the middle of the night Tuesday ? a rare tactic for the pirates.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']U.S. Navy Lt. Nathan Christensen, spokesman for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said the Irene was flagged in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and carried 23 Filipino crew. Choong reported a crew of 21, and there was no immediate way to reconcile the figures.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']A maritime security contractor, speaking on condition of anonymity because it is a sensitive security issue, said the ship put out a distress signal "to say they had a suspicious vessel approaching. That rapidly turned into an attack and then a hijacking."[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']"They tried to call in support on the emergency channels, but they never got any response," the contractor said[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']On Monday, Somali pirates also seized two Egyptian fishing boats in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's northern coast, according to Egypt's Foreign Ministry, which said there were 18 to 24 Egyptians onboard at the time.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Choong said pirate attacks this year had risen to 77, with 18 of those ships hijacked and 16 vessels with 285 crew still remaining in pirates' hands. Each boat carries the potential of million-dollar ransom.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The latest seizures come after Navy SEAL snipers rescued American ship captain Richard Phillips on Sunday by killing three young pirates who held him captive in a drifting lifeboat for five days. A fourth pirate surrendered after seeking medical attention for a wound he received in trying to take over Phillips' vessel, the Maersk Alabama.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Phillips is aboard a Navy vessel at an undisclosed location, Christensen said. He was initially taken aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based USS Bainbridge immediately after his rescue and then flown to the San Diego-based USS Boxer for a medical exam.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']In Washington, President Barack Obama appeared to move the piracy issue higher on his agenda, vowing the United States would work with nations around the world to halt the rising scourge.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']"I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region and to achieve that goal, we're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks," Obama said at a news conference Monday.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The 19 crew members of the Alabama celebrated their skipper's freedom with beer and an evening barbecue Monday in the Kenyan port of Mombasa, said crewman Ken Quinn, who ventured out holding a Tusker beer ? a popular brew in Kenya.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Earlier, the vessel's chief mate was among those urging strong U.S. action against piracy.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']"It's time for us to step in and put an end to this crisis," Shane Murphy said. "It's a crisis. Wake up."[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The U.S. is considering new options to fight piracy, including adding Navy gunships along the Somali coastline and launching a campaign to disable pirate "mother ships," according to military officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made yet.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']In Burlington, Vt., Phillips' wife, Andrea Phillips thanked Obama, who approved the dramatic sniper operation.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']"With Richard saved, you all just gave me the best Easter ever," she said in a statement.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The four pirates that attacked the Alabama were between 17 and 19 years old, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']"Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons," Gates told students and faculty at the Marine Corps War College. "Everybody in the room knows the consequences of that."[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']U.S.[/FONT][FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] officials were now considering whether to bring the fourth pirate, who surrendered shortly before the sniper shootings, to the United States or possibly turn him over to Kenya.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Both piracy and hostage-taking carry life prison sentences under U.S. law.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The American ship had been carrying food aid bound for Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda when the ordeal began Wednesday hundreds of miles off Somalia's eastern coast. As the pirates clambered aboard and shot in the air, Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Phillips was then taken hostage in an enclosed lifeboat that was soon shadowed by three U.S. warships and a helicopter.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Navy SEAL snipers on the USS Bainbridge got the go-ahead to fire after one pirate held an AK-47 close to Phillips' back, U.S. defense officials said.[/FONT]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The French navy late Monday handed over the bodies of two Somali pirates killed in a hostage rescue operation last week to the authorities in the semiautonomous northern region of Puntland, and they were buried by locals.[/FONT]


God Steer Thee Well!!!!

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

The skill and courage of our Navy Seals impresses me but does not surprise me. What surprises me is that someone higher up had enough of a spine to order what had to be done.

The sad part is that the US Navy does not need orders from higher up to take any necessary measure, short of starting a war, to do what is necessary to protect and save any US citizen on the high seas.

 

[Edko]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Apparently the "Pirates" grabbed 4 more vessels today...

Really, how hard would it be for a multinational force to plunk a few destroyers down in that area and just hunt pirates all day. I bet that would put a serious dent in this activity, it's getting pretty ridiculous now.

Very, very happy the Captain and his crew are safe and sound. /Salute to the USN.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Or run scheduled convoys with destroyer escorts. Worked in WWII against wayyyyyyyyyyy tougher opposition than a few pirates in inflatables.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

The ridiculous part I read today was that the pirates were like 17 year old kids.

The ships only defense is a water hose

Why not put some mercenaries on board these ships. It's a lot cheaper than paying millions in ransom.

Go and wipe out the Somalian villages where they breed these nests of thugs!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Or run scheduled convoys with destroyer escorts. Worked in WWII against wayyyyyyyyyyy tougher opposition than a few pirates in inflatables.

Tim, I think you are right. It seems to me that doinf this would be the easiest and least expensive option at this point in time. Beyond that, I think that a combination of economic devlopment and intelligence must be employed - the economic development to give Somalians choices concerning income, and the intelligence to kill the ones that can't get with the program.

 

[dave11]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

RE: U.S Navy SEALS
Their Value ..................................................PRICELESS !!!



GO NAVY !


peter

I have done a lot of shooting. The skill those SEALs demonstrated is absolutely phemomenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our tax dollars were well spent to train those men.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Or run scheduled convoys with destroyer escorts. Worked in WWII against wayyyyyyyyyyy tougher opposition than a few pirates in inflatables.

Something like this comes to mind!!

 

[ebry710]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

It is rare to see international justice not stopped by politics. Gives you a sense of pride to be an American.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Award for Vt. skipper rescued from Somali pirates
6:01 p.m.

The Associated Press - Published: May 20, 2009

BOURNE, Mass. ? The captain of a U.S. cargo ship who surrendered himself to Somali pirates to spare his sailors says leadership means taking care of the crew.

Capt. Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vt., was recognized Wednesday as the 2009 Mariner of the Year by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he graduated in 1979.

During a speech, Phillips advised the academy?s cadets that they need to lead by example.

It was the first time he returned to campus since four Somali pirates seized the Maersk Alabama in April. Phillips offered himself as a hostage and was held for five days in one of his ship?s lifeboats.

He was freed when U.S. Navy snipers shot and killed three of his teenage captors. A fourth was flown to New York and indicted Tuesday on piracy and other charges.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Tim, I think you are right. It seems to me that doinf this would be the easiest and least expensive option at this point in time. Beyond that, I think that a combination of economic devlopment and intelligence must be employed - the economic development to give Somalians choices concerning income, and the intelligence to kill the ones that can't get with the program.

Jay,
It's easy to judge, but Somalia has been subject to some pretty significant foreign excesses over the past 20 odd years.
Without in the least justifying the current rash of piracy, the International Community bears a significant responsibility for the situation that is now causing them such a problem,. at least IMO.
The last 20 years has seen almost a complete breakdown of any organised government or authority in Somalia. Once that happens, it's almost like a "gradual" train-wreck.
If media reports are accurate (...yeah, yeah, I know...) foreign fishing interests have taken this opportunity to completely strip the formerly rich Somali inshore fishery. This has completely destroyed the coastal social fabric and economy.
Supposedly, other nations have also taken advantage of the lack of territorial enforcement to use these coastal waters as a dumping ground for nuclear waste.
If there is any truth to this (and I have no way of verifying the reports myself) you would have to admit that the Somalian "little guys" who are screwed by all of this probably have a legitimate beef. Once you get to that point....anything is possible....desperate folks do desperate stuff.

Having said that, if you insist on picking out the biggest kid on the block, with the most stuff, and you kick him in the shins....
What did you say about intelligence?...

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Tim, I don't disagree with you on the things that you mentioned. That's why I believe that economic development has to be a part of the solution.

I didn't know that Somali waters are being used as a dumping ground for nuclear waste. That is very definately a situation that needs to be rectified.

 

[QC]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

I can see a whole lot to react to in the last two posts, a lot of speculation and a lot politics. NO reactions to either please . . .

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

Wow.... I pulled the post back up when I read the "recent news" article last night

 

[QC]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

I clearly said no reactions, but of course your post is a reaction to a reaction concerning potential reactions. Due to that, and since you are a fellow Modulator, I will allow it . . . Carry on

 

[bowman316]

Re: Score one for the USA Navy Seals

I realize that this area of water is huge, even thou it may look small on a map. But how do these guys have a "mother ship" which was a ship the stole a while back.

Why can't we get this mother ship. They are using this ship to refuel and get more weapons and such. They may be able to space out about 20 warships to where each ship is 10 miles away from the next one. Then run up this sea in a line, and you are bound to spot the mother ship.