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| Africa Horn | |
| Americans Take Ship Back From Pirates, Keep One As Evidence | |
| 2009-04-08 | |
Pentagon officials said Wednesday that the American crew of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship had retaken control from Somali pirates who hijacked the vessel far off the Horn of Africa.
At a noon news conference, Maersk Line Ltd. CEO John Reinhart said that the company was working to contact families of the crew. "Speculation is a dangerous thing when you're in a fluid environment. I will not confirm that the crew has overtaken this ship," he said. A U.S. official said the crew had retaken control and had one pirate in custody. "The crew is back in control of the ship," a U.S. official said at midday, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on the record. "It's reported that one pirate is on board under crew control -- the other three were trying to flee," the official said. The status of the other pirates was unknown, the official said, but they were reported to "be in the water." The official said the status of the other pirates was unknown but they were reported to "be in the water." The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Another U.S. official, citing a readout from an interagency conference call, said: "Multiple reliable sources are now reporting that the Maersk Alabama is now under control of the U.S. crew. The crew reportedly has one pirate in custody. The status of others is unclear, they are believed to be in the water." Heavily shark infested water. Cue the theme to "Jaws". | |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #22 I find the screws concern...unnecessary |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-04-08 23:47 |
| #21 3c, in the old days hauling them from bow to stern was known as keelraking. Although it would be fun, especially on a supertanker, keelraking would only work on a ship without screws. Of course, if they came to a halt for a short time, it could be done. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-04-08 23:25 |
| #20 Redneck Jim.. there is always room for innovation... Long works... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-04-08 22:30 |
| #19 You betcha, Frank G! |
| Posted by: Aussie Mike 2009-04-08 21:31 |
| #18 Ummm, 49 Pan, keelhauling is from side to side, not longways. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-04-08 21:16 |
| #17 heh - Aussie Mike - another Serenity/Firefly fan :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-04-08 20:38 |
| #16 I can just see it. "Hay captain, make them pirates walk the plank and feed them to the sharks! Its a better fate than keel haulin down this 400 foot ship." |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2009-04-08 19:59 |
| #15 Rusty ice picks, nails, whatever discretely puncturing the abdominal cavity would ruin one's day, in a slow way. Just sayin'. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-04-08 18:38 |
| #14 Why keep one for evidence? Just get back to port and when anyone asks just say "Pirates? What pirates?" I'm much in favor of the Malcolm Reynolds solution for people who try to take over your ship and threaten your crew. |
| Posted by: Aussie Mike 2009-04-08 17:53 |
| #13 Rambler in Virginia, the news I heard is that the ship Danish and only the crew is American. How long before O'Bambi apologizes to the Somalis and offers ACORN assistance to the pirates. So then the pirates will really know how to steal and bully. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2009-04-08 17:32 |
| #12 Doesn't the fact that the pirates attacked a US flagged vessel give the US Navy license to hunt them down? |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-04-08 17:16 |
| #11 I think we would be well served if all holders of a Unlimited Tonnage Master Mariner license were required to kill, gut and then hang a pirate from a large vessel's rail at least once in their career. Maybe make it a requirement of their continuing ed or recert. (Hey, I can dream can't I?) |
| Posted by: GORT 2009-04-08 15:35 |
| #10 The BBC just interviewed an 'expert' who thought exactly that. He called the ship a decoy, out to find pirate 'motherships' |
| Posted by: john frum 2009-04-08 15:24 |
| #9 If I were a shipping company executive, I'd be on the phone looking for a half-dozen martial arts instructors to train my crew in unarmed combat. Ex-Green Berets, Rangers, and Seals, members of the Korean Marines, and even a few Japanese martial arts instructors could mop up, and pirates would find their current occupation not quite so lucrative - or safe. The other thought that crossed my mind is that we may have our "Q-ship"... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-04-08 14:43 |
| #8 Fox News is saying that the pirates are still holding the ship's captain and the crew is in 'negotiations'. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2009-04-08 14:25 |
| #7 The status of others is unclear, they are believed to be in the water." Water-unBoarding....? Lets hope none of the poor, hungry, disenfranchised, pirates of color suffered any "torture" at the hands of the brave crew. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-04-08 14:18 |
| #6 LOL - crash course in water safety and pirates demonstrating their talent for swallowing. Drinks all around! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2009-04-08 13:43 |
| #5 GOD BLESS THE AMERICAN FIGHTING SPIRIT!!! |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2009-04-08 13:40 |
| #4 Enjoy the 400 mile swim pirate scumbags. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-04-08 13:37 |
| #3 It'll be interesting to follow what happens to the sole "disadvantaged yoot" whom they did not toss into the drink. Maybe The Zero's Justice Department will have him released to the custody of Moderate Muzzies (TM) who will show him how to spend his forthcoming |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2009-04-08 13:06 |
| #2 Prepare to repel boarders! |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2009-04-08 13:04 |
#1 The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has a message for the pirates: |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2009-04-08 13:00 |