US Vessel Hijacked

[mphy98]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

I heard our new commander in chief is sending the pirates a strongly worded letter.

 

[angus63]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

Video from bridge simulator lab at Kings Point

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']http://www.nypost.com/video/?channel=PostUsFeed&clipid=1458_492254&bitrate=300&format=flash[/FONT]

 

[fakeplay]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

jeeezzzz, my little post won't mean anything now.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

Given the fact that this situation already has serious implications on a worldwide basis, and will only get worse as it is allowed to continue, it seems like its time to get serious.

For a bunch of guys in small boats, with nothing more than automatic weapons and RPGs, to be holding world shipping hostage, is ridiculous. With a UN Resolution allowing it, all that would be necessary is to put a carrier group in the region for a few months, with instructions to "shoot to kill." Through the use of AWACS aircraft and strike aircraft, the Somalis would soon find out that trying to hijack commercial shipping is a very bad idea.

To me, this is simple - station the carrier group in a central location, find some of the pirates via AWACS and just respond to the distressed ships the rest of the time. Since the problems occur in open sea, with no restrictions in regard to supersonic flight, there isn't a location involved that couldn't be reached in 30 minutes by a pair of F/A 18 Hornets. In fact, it might even be possible to put one of our carrier groups on one end of the problem area and a Brit carrier on the other end. The Russians might also be inclined to join the effort.

Time for a little "target practice," as far as I am concerned.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

Several updates:

The captain hostage jumped out of the lifeboat and tried to swim for it... but was recaptured. He's still alive on the lifeboat.

The pirates are asking for $2 million in ransom to release the captain.

Another pirate-held ship, German flagged, is steaming to the location in an apparent attempt to help the pirates in the lifeboat.

Drama in the real world. Wish we had a live TV feed.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

As I understand it the pirates MUST board a ship in order to hijack it. The solution is to stop them from getting on the ship. Why not have thermo image cameras set up around the ship and as soon as anything as large as a human gets near the outside rails an alarm will sound and the pirates then can be stoped BEFORE they climb on board. The method to deal with these fools hanging on ropes can be left up to the captain. I say just shoot them down.

 

[angus63]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

There are International rules governing firearms on Commercial Merchant Vessels. A vessel carrying arms must be inspected when entering territorial waters of most countries before docking. There are also other issues regarding crew and officer background checks and the issue of firearms on LNG vessel, Crude carriers, Grain Bulk carriers, etc... which are highly volatile and an accidental discharge could be catastrophic in or near port.

Would you be comfortable with foreign armed crews entering a US port in a vessel loaded with a combustible cargo capable of leveling a 3 mile radius?

The solution lies in intradiction to eliminate the source of piracy, which is way too easy to say and much more difficult to accomplish when the source feeds on the teets of unrecognized rebel governments. Until the rules governing International merchant shipping can be modified, which requires global agreement (ie. no time soon during the height of the troubles), the only solution is avoidance of high density zones or military escort until the threat subsides.

My guts burn over the current condition which could of been avoided if proactivity was not a distant memory and a crisis is now necessary to spark action.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

OK, so no weapons aboard. How about lining the rails with a seawater fed piping system that sprays very high pressure water around the entire ship. Faced with about 1,000 psi of seawater spraying in a downward direction from every inch of the rail, I doubt any pirates would manage to get aboard.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

There are International rules governing firearms on Commercial Merchant Vessels. A vessel carrying arms must be inspected when entering territorial waters of most countries before docking. There are also other issues regarding crew and officer background checks and the issue of firearms on LNG vessel, Crude carriers, Grain Bulk carriers, etc... which are highly volatile and an accidental discharge could be catastrophic in or near port.

Would you be comfortable with foreign armed crews entering a US port in a vessel loaded with a combustible cargo capable of leveling a 3 mile radius?

The solution lies in intradiction to eliminate the source of piracy, which is way too easy to say and much more difficult to accomplish when the source feeds on the teets of unrecognized rebel governments. Until the rules governing International merchant shipping can be modified, which requires global agreement (ie. no time soon during the height of the troubles), the only solution is avoidance of high density zones or military escort until the threat subsides.

My guts burn over the current condition which could of been avoided if proactivity was not a distant memory and a crisis is now necessary to spark action.

Yeah , but a Naval craft disguised as a merchant vessel would be a very nice touch . After a few of these show up and turn the tide on the scum , I believe the pirates might start to get the message that there are safer ways to earn a living .

Cheaper than an entire Carrier Group , and the surprise element would be priceless . Not to mention very effective , especially if they hang every survivor for piracy , then air drop the carcass back on Somali soil .

Besides , the presence of a large Naval contingent would just make the pirates lay low untill political attention wanes and the Navy redeploys elsewhere .

 

[BWR1953]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

I think those were called "Q-ships" in WWII.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

I had not realised that there at least 4 ship still in the hands of pirates in Somalian ports, and 100+ hostages, some for more than 6 months.
That does make the situation a lot more complex than just "roll the dice and send in the SEALS."
Also, according to an ABC report the US Military is much more restricted by its Rules of Engagement in a civilian hostage situation than otherwise.
It is easy to call for the John Wayne stuff (most of us would love to see it happen) but I am glad that I don't have to pull the strings.
Job 1 should be the Captain's safety. Payback may have to wait.

The benign-Instigator of much of this may be the insurance companies who are dealing with these situations on a straight business/actuarial basis. A couple of million payout is preferable to writing off the entire asset.
No surprise which direction this is now trending.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

CPT Phillips a fellow VT'er has done everything right.

Myself as a former military man..... I think the hostage taker's need to be VERY afraid. I know what a SEAL team can do and I do not think this will go on too long......Those "fiberglass" lifeboats are really old and unsafe and could sink at any moment.........

CPT Phillips and his family has my support/prayers, the USN has it too..... I hope the Pirates are religious because they are soon to meet Neptune.

I sure would like to see the USN surface a submarine along side the lifeboat just for the sake of visual effect and have a seal team board from the other side It would be quick.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/12/somalia.pirates/index.html

They got him back , pirates not feeling well...

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

Sounds to me like Cpt. Phillips made is own luck once again - this is a guy with some major stones! Good for him.

Bad for the pirates!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

YES!

That's the way ya do it! Way to go USN!!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

CPT Phillips a fellow VT'er has done everything right.
.................
and have a seal team board from the other side It would be quick.

Rest my case. Good job Seals.....

 

[BWR1953]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

Sounds like he jumped overboard again... and this time we were ready.

Awesome.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

I think the best part of this is the precedent that was set. Next time these thugs will think 2,3,4 times before trying to pull off this kind of crap.
Hopefully they will all be giving it a good re-think now.
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
BP

 

[BWR1953]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

I think the best part of this is the precedent that was set. Next time these thugs will think 2,3,4 times before trying to pull off this kind of crap.
Hopefully they will all be giving it a good re-think now.
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
BP

I thought that too at first but am not so sure now. The admiral giving the briefing this afternoon said that the area in question is gigantic in size and used the following reference.

Draw a line north from Houston to Chicago, east to New York City, south to Jacksonville, then back west to Houston to complete the polygon. That's how much area has to be patrolled. Humonguos. Many experts talking today think that the use of violence on this mission could cause escalation rather than the opposite.

The pirates may now start shooting with their RPGs first.

Hard to say. Time will tell.

I do applaud the action today though. An outstanding mission all in all.

 

[Don S]

Re: US Vessel Hijacked

The pirates may now start shooting with their RPGs first.

Hard to say. Time will tell.

When we start giving pirates millions without a fight because they MIGHT do something bad to us if we cross them. Then we, the people of the USA are a bunch of wusses, and deserve what we get.
It is no different than a neighborhood takeing back thier town from a bunch of punk gang bangers. Sometimes you have to say "Enough is Enough" and stand up for what is right, instead of peaking out from behind the curtains.