US unveils plan to tackle piracy

[HURAKAN]

Somalia: U.S. Ship Hijacked, Captain Taken Hostage8 April 2009

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The crew of an American-operated ship hijacked by suspected Somali pirates early Wednesday has regained control of the vessel, but the pirates have taken the captain hostage, news agencies and television stations are reporting.

Ken Quinn, the second officer, told CNN in an interview that the pirates had taken Captain Richard Phillips captive on the ship's lifeboat. The crew took a pirate hostage in attempt to negotiate a swap, but Quinn said that effort failed and the crew gave back the pirate.

Pentagon officials as saying four pirates attempted to take control of the ship off the Somali coast. A Pentagon official told the New York Times that other details remain murky.

The Maersk Alabama, a 17,525-tonne vessel, is crewed by 20 United States nationals and was on its way to Mombasa, carrying 400 containers of food aid.

John Reinhart, the chief executive officer of the U.S. firm which owns the ship, said at a noon EST (16:00 GMT) press conference Wednesday that the company had received a phone call from the Maersk Alabama, and the crew reported that it was safe. Reinhart gave no other details, and refused to confirm or deny that the crew had regained control of the ship. Reinhart added that the company first heard the ship was taken at about 12:30 AM EST (4:30 GMT).

Earlier, Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesperson, said that President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials were monitoring the situation and exploring all available options. "Our top priority is the personal safety of the crew members on board," Gibbs said.

The ship's home port was Norfolk, Virginia, and it was owned and operated by by Maersk Line, Limited in the United States.

[george_r_1961]

The USS Bainbridge is enroute.

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/sto ... a05c8.html

[HURAKAN]

The US must respond with the necessary force. The UN needs to create a marine force to defend ships from these pirates. This situation cannot continue.

[george_r_1961]

The US must respond with the necessary force. The UN needs to create a marine force to defend ships from these pirates. This situation cannot continue.

I agree. Hopefully that Navy ship has a SEAL team on it.

These pirates need to be dealt with mercilessly.

[JonathanBelles]

The captains and crews of ships going through those areas should be armed against the pirates. I was astonished to hear on ABC news earlier that the pirates are something to look **up** at in Somalia!

[Brent]

The captains and crews of ships going through those areas should be armed against the pirates. I was astonished to hear on ABC news earlier that the pirates are something to look **up** at in Somalia!

I don't understand why the ships are not armed. There have been a number of small skirmishes with pirates in these areas the past few months, so it's not that unbelievable(and I would have thought a U.S. crew would be armed especially, pretty shocked they weren't).

[Aslkahuna]

I believe that it is against Maritime Law for Merchant Vessels to be armed except during War for ships belonging to combatant nations. There are probably firearms on board for the crew but they would normally be locked up.

Steve

[Dionne]

I believe that it is against Maritime Law for Merchant Vessels to be armed except during War for ships belonging to combatant nations. There are probably firearms on board for the crew but they would normally be locked up.

Steve

There were no firearms on board. The chase lasted 5 hours. The only weapons available were the high pressure hoses. Do you really think a captain would not break out firearms if he had them during a pirate pursuit?

Whats going to happen is Blackwater professionals on board in the future.

I expect a SEAL team will end this ordeal.

My prayers for the captain. Hope he makes it out.

[HURAKAN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7991114.stm

FBI in hostage talks

[HURAKAN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7992779.stm

Ship on its way to Kenya without captain.

[Dionne]

There is now an 18 man armed security detail on board the Maersk. Some reports say it's a Navy SEAL team. Gotta love em!

[vbhoutex]

I have a question, which could be stupid(because it may have been answered and I didn't see it). Why have we not just put a Navy seal team in the water off of the Navy ship and they swim underwater to the life boat and take it over. I know the people on the boat are armed, but I somehow think they could have enough element of surprise to pull it off. Maybe I am just naive, even at my ripe old age.

[Dionne]

It is my understanding that SEAL teams are in place. This is turning into an international crisis. Think about it.....pirates boarding cargo vessels....using small craft to sneak in....THEY ARE 300 MILES OFFSHORE. Got to be a mothership. More vessels from various nations plus captured vessels heading in that direction.

There is going to be a "conflict" in the Indian Ocean.

[vbhoutex]

I have a question, which could be stupid(because it may have been answered and I didn't see it). Why have we not just put a Navy seal team in the water off of the Navy ship and they swim underwater to the life boat and take it over. I know the people on the boat are armed, but I somehow think they could have enough element of surprise to pull it off. Maybe I am just naive, even at my ripe old age.

My question was answered by the news. The boat is basically a sealed boat and would be all but impossible to get into without the captain being killed, if he wasn't already after trying to escape. No one has spoken to him for 24 hours as of news this evening when I was watching.
I agree that this will probably turn in to a major incident or minor conflict or both.

[Cryomaniac]

I agree that this will probably turn in to a major incident or minor conflict or both.

Definitely. Just a matter of time, especially after this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7994980.stm

Somali pirates have hijacked a tugboat in the Gulf of Aden with 16 crew members on board - 10 of them Italians, reports say.

Maritime industry sources say the tug was towing two barges at the time of the attack at 0800 GMT. The crew are said to be unharmed.

Meanwhile pirates holding a US captain hostage have warned that using force to rescue him could result in "disaster".

The pirates said they hoped to put Capt Richard Phillips on a larger vessel.

US and other naval ships are making their way to the area.

He is being held by four pirates in a lifeboat hundreds of kilometres off Somalia.

Meanwhile unnamed US officials were quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was examining the hijacking.

US Attorney General Eric Holder said last week there had not been a case of piracy against a US ship for hundreds of years.

[x-y-no]

CNN is reporting Captain Phillips managed to jump overboard again, and this time he was rescued. He's in good condition. Several of the pirates killed.

[Dionne]

Three of the four pirates killed. Captain Phillips with no apparent injuries. Outstanding performance. News is sketchy, but it appears Phillips jumped overboard again. It's an easy bet who was there to help him this time.



News continues to come in....apparently one of the pirates was on a US Warship negotiating when the rescue was pulled off. Not very smart on behalf of the pirates. I'm willing to bet the transfer of the pirate to the warship for negotiation was when the SEAL team insertion happened.

This really makes my day!

[Cookiely]

It took guts to jump overboard.

[x-y-no]

A slightly different version here:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/04 ... roved.html

According to this, the President had authorized special forces (read SEALs) to use deadly force at their discretion. One of the pirates was off the boat negotiating and the SEALs observed Capt. Phillips move to the side of the boat to relieve himself and they took the opportunity to kill the three pirates on board.

The one who was doing the negotiating was taken into custody.

[tropicana]

i dont know what they do officially with the bodies of those 3 dead pirates..but i know what i would do....

FREE SHARK FEEDING FRENZY!!!!
woohoo

this was indeed a good ending to this story.

-justin-