Somali Pirates very active again

[angus63]

Since the M/V Alabama attack, piracy in the region slowed for a while until the last two weeks. Scores of attempted hijackings since October 1st. Below is the latest unclassified report from Naval Intelligence. We are sending 160 cadets out on merchant vessels in two weeks and concerns are very high. I am certain we'll see more incidents like M/V Alabama before too long. God steer thee well, Mariners.​

Please be advised:


A merchant vessel reported coming under fire at 0415 UTC on 22 October
2009 while underway in position 03:45.28S - 046:43.24E. All vessels
should avoid this area as it will remain high risk for at least the next
24-48 hours. Weather in the area is expected to remain conducive to
small boat activity as winds of 5-15 kts are expected with associated
wave heights of 2-5 feet. Prevailing currents are significant along this
latitude and tends to flow in an easterly direction with speeds up to
3.5 kts. Therefore, increased risk of attack exists due east of this
incident.

In addition, a merchant vessel was reported as hijacked at 0555 UTCOn 22 October 2009 while underway in position 04:09S - 052:35E.

Please note the following IMB advisory:

QUOTE

220700 UTC OCT 2009

TO : ALL SHIPS TRANSITING EAST AND SOUTH OF SOMALIA / OFF KENYA / OFF
TANZANIA /

OFF MADAGASCAR / OFF SEYCHELLES

WARNING WARNING WARNING


ATTACKS ARE INCREASING OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIAIT APPEARS THAT WITHTHE END OF THE SW MONSOON WITH FAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, SOMALIPIRATES ARE NOW VERY ACTIVELY ATTACKING VESSELS VERY FAR OFF THE COASTOF SOMALIA. ONE ATTACK EVEN OCCURRED AT ABOUT 060 E. IN A SHORT PERIODTHE IMB PRC HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED 7 ATTACKS WITH TWO SUCCESSFULHIJACKINGS IN THE FOLLOWING AREA : 06:17 N 054:41 E, 01:53 S 060:05 E01:33 S 054:52 E, 01:47 S 056:07 E, 02:36 S 048:34 E AND 03:45 S 046:43E. ANOTHER BULK CARRIER IS NOW PRESENTLY UNDER ATTACK BY PIRATES ANDSOME PIRATES MAY HAVE BOARDED THE VESSEL AT POSITION 04:09 S 052:35 E.

ALL SHIPS TRANSITING IN THESE AREAS, PLEASE MAINTAIN A STRICT ANTI
PIRACY WATCH, 24 HOUR RADAR WATCH AND LOOKOUT THROUGHOUT YOUR PASSAGE.
SHIPS SAILING MORE THAN 600 NM ARE ALSO ADVISE TO REMAIN VIGILANT AT ALL
TIMES AS PIRATES ARE NOW MOVING FURTHER OUT TO SEA TO ATTACK MERCHANT
VESSELS. EARLY ASSESSMENT / DETECTION WILL ALLOW SHIPS TO TAKE EVASIVE
MEASURES TO PREVENT BOARDING AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.


ALL ATTACKS AND SUSPICIOUS SIGHTINGS INCLUDING POSSIBLE PIRATE MOTHER
VESSEL TOWING SKIFFS SHOULD BE REPORTED. 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.

IMB PIRACY REPORTING CENTRE

24 HOURS ANTI-PIRACY HELPLINE: +603 2031 0014



TELEX: MA 34199

NNNN


Very Respectfully,

ENS James L. Mirance, USN
Maritime Crime/Piracy Analyst
Naval Intelligence Task Force- Maritime Security
Office of Naval Intelligence

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

time to just blow them out of the water.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Simple solution. Arm the merchant ships and NO SURVIVORS!!!!!!!!!!! Eventually you will run out of pirates.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

There are really only two choices - hit them at their base camps in Somalia, or place well armed and trained security forces on the ships. In the end, the pirates are going to have to be killed in large numbers, in order to discourage them.

Given the advanced intel capability that exists among the world's significant powers, I find it amazing that the pirate ships can not be tracked from the moment they leave their home ports. I offered the above comment, simply because no one seems to be able to get to these people before they strike. Really, what should be happening is for them to be under constant surveilance, so that they can be immediately attacked if the go after a merchant vessel.



???

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

time to just blow them out of the water.

There's must be something preventing them from doing that? anybody know? How about a high power water gun, the type that's on fire truck. It can easily sink a small boat, unlimited ammo and won't violate any sort of weapon regulation.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ikgaAtVvU8Md68uZojEKlE7yaXDQ

They are back at it alright. RPG's are their new weapons of choice apparently.

Sounds like just taking out(davey jones locker w/ no survivors) the "mother ship" would go a long way as far as prevention. They probably have thousands of little skiffs, maybe not as many larger vessels.

Gonefishie, good idea...that would be pretty inexpensive as well.

Seems like the rest of the world is going to sit this one out...as usual. Good old US of A will be solving this problem like all the rest, hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Seems like the rest of the world is going to sit this one out...as usual. Good old US of A will be solving this problem like all the rest, hopefully sooner rather than later.

You may want to do a little research on Combined Task Force 151. The U.S. Navy transferred command to the Turkish Navy on May 3rd. There are more than 20 member countries supplying Naval ships and aircraft to patrol the area.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

One thing that I wonder about with this situation, is the possibility of an Al Qaida connection.

To me, there is a logical connection. Al Qaida has known ties to Somalia, plus it has plenty of incentive to arm, train and finance operations. While the financing part probably isn't an issue at this point, it may have been initially. It would also make sense for Al Qaida to control and direct such operations, in order to supply its own cash needs.

I don't know that this matters much in regard to the end result, but it would be interesting to know. Either way, however, the piracy needs to be quashed and it seems completely unacceptable to me that it has not been, thus far.



???

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Do they still hang Pirates? preferably from yardarms!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

You may want to do a little research on Combined Task Force 151. The U.S. Navy transferred command to the Turkish Navy on May 3rd. There are more than 20 member countries supplying Naval ships and aircraft to patrol the area.

I stand corrected...thanks for keeping me in line

 

[angus63]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

There's must be something preventing them from doing that? anybody know? How about a high power water gun, the type that's on fire truck. It can easily sink a small boat, unlimited ammo and won't violate any sort of weapon regulation.

The amount of HP required to operate effective fire pumps radially around the circumference of a 1200' vessel is greater than the propulsion requirements. How to "man" the nozzles safely when being fired upon is a huge issue. We (MARAD) are currently investigating the effectiveness of acoustic/RF/laser/microwave etc... deterents. These are longterm programs that won't satisfy immediate needs. Immediate need is intradiction to cut off the motherships before they can deploy, but international rules stymie the combatants until they witness a hostile act. Foreign companies paying ransom doesn't help the situation. Not certain there is a legal "solve" for this international situation.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

The name is Sparrow. Jack Sparrow. Ayerrr!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Immediate need is intradiction to cut off the motherships before they can deploy, but international rules stymie the combatants until they witness a hostile act.

I understand that you are reacting to law based upon your maritime knowledge, which because of what you do for a living, in greater than most of us have. That said, I have no doubt that the motherships can be tracked with satellites and both those ships and the boats can be harassed. We don't have to attack them, blow them up, etc. All we have to do is remind them that the second that they do something that does allow attack, we will vaporize them. Better yet, we can sit back and let them act, so that we can blow them out of the water.

The bottom line is that we either find a way to do something, or we allow a bunch of guys with "primitive" weapons and methods, to laugh at a world full of significant military powers. To me, this situation is nothing short of ridiculous.



???

 

[angus63]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

I understand that you are reacting to law based upon your maritime knowledge, which because of what you do for a living, in greater than most of us have. That said, I have no doubt that the motherships can be tracked with satellites and both those ships and the boats can be harassed. We don't have to attack them, blow them up, etc. All we have to do is remind them that the second that they do something that does allow attack, we will vaporize them. Better yet, we can sit back and let them act, so that we can blow them out of the water.

The bottom line is that we either find a way to do something, or we allow a bunch of guys with "primitive" weapons and methods, to laugh at a world full of significant military powers. To me, this situation is nothing short of ridiculous.





Unfortunately it boils down to resource and liability.
The area of concern is equivalent to New York to Florida extending 200 miles from the coast. Resources to patrol a region so vast doesn't exist. Ships can effectively patrol an area of appx 50 mile radius (2 hr response). Even two hours is too long since most attacks last about one hour before breaking off.
No actions will be taken against a vessel without provocation because of the consequences faced for high seas violations.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

I understand and agree, that trying to randomly cover what was a huge area even before the pirates starting going so far offshore, is essentially impossible.

What has changed, however, is that the pirates are using motherships. I would find it hard to believe that these vessels can not be tracked via a combination of satellite intelligence and targeted recon flights with high speed aircraft. If acquired leaving Somalia, or even while at sea, it then becomes possible to shadow them with a warship from the international coalition.

We have the technology and the combat resources to do this, so the question becomes, why aren't we?



???

 

[sfy]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

perhaps this is the answer?

http://www.somalicruises.com/

 

[angus63]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Jay - Unfortunately satellites cannot discern intent and tracking via satellite is very expensive time. For the hundreds of local fishing vessels that traverse the area daily, there may be a half dozen that are conspiring to commit piracy. Needle in a stack of needles situation.​

 

[v1_0]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Y'all are focusing on the sympoms of the problem, but not the problem itself.

These pirates make A LOT of money in a very impoverished area. This alone makes it an attractive career choice for someone earning the regular wages (2$/day, I think it is) - if they happen to have a job.

This also isn't some small group of a couple of shiploads of pirates - there's a whole organization behind this. (Actually, I believe there are 3-4 seperate groups). These groups are also pretty influential in both the community and government. In fact, this 'industry' raises the standard of living in the local community as the pirates actually have money to spend on quality goods and luxuries.

These organizations also seem to be managing to portray a 'gentleman pirate' type image - they take good care of their hostages, return the ships unharmed when their ransom is paid, etc.

Finally, there's the whole political situation going on here. The pirates do operate in Somalian waters - with Somalia being a sovern nation and all. Of course, the pirates have a lot of influence so the government of Somalia has a tight rope to walk on. The UN is, of course, divided on this sort of thing - certain countries do not want a precident set here. I believe that they did make some sort of resolution on this, and that was a while ago - you can see how effective it has been. Someone is going to have to foot the bill on this sort of thing...

Let's say someone does blow up the mothership - the pirates will simply get another. Or buy a sub, or something. (They do have enough money for that sort of thing). Unless they blow up every mothership, and quickly enough to make piracy no longer cost effective - this will not stop them. Its too late, the organizations are too big.

Attacking the organizations themselves is even a bigger issue. Plus, worthless if there isn't an alternative career for the people to go to. All that would happen is that the organization would reform later, or perhaps move to other things that organized crime does.

 

[angus63]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

Somalia has no recognized government and is virtually lawless. Control falls to the local group with the most and largest weapons. This rules out any attempts at "diplomacy". The one reasonable action which is in development to protect US shipping in the area is establishing escorted regularly scheduled convoys from Suez and Diego Garcia to provide protection thru the zone. My fear is tragedy will be the catalyst to expedite the effort.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Somali Pirates very active again

I say the vessel ships should carry the ability to sink the pirate ships....if their is no ship there is no one to argue and attack...