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| Africa Horn |
| U.S. Navy rescues SoKor fishing boats from pirates |
| 2007-11-05 |
| NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates left two boats they had hijacked in the waters off the Horn of Africa, and the newly liberated vessels -- and their crew of 24 -- were under U.S. Navy escort on Sunday, the American military said. A U.S. Navy ship and helicopter were guiding the Tanzanian-flagged boats Mavuno 1 and 2 further out to sea, where naval personnel will later board the vessels and treat crew members, said Cmdr. Lydia Robertson of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The Navy is in radio contact with pirates aboard three other ships in the region, encouraging them also to leave those ships and sail back to Somalia. "We're very happy with this development and hope it happens with the other ships off the coast," Robertson said. "We're very happy for the crew and their families." Robertson said the pirates boarded skiffs after they left the hijacked ships, and headed back to Somalia. No shots were fired during the incident, she said. She gave no more details. The U.S. has now intervened four times in one week to help ships hijacked by Somali pirates. Sailors boarded a North Korean ship to give medical assistance to crew members who overpowered their hijackers, and a Naval vessel fired on pirate skiffs tied to a Japanese-owned ship. Robertson said that ship was still under control of pirates, although the U.S. Navy was still working to free that ship from pirates. There were no details on the other two seized ships. In South Korea, the Foreign Ministry said 24 sailors onboard the two Korean-owned ships seized May 15 off Somalia were safe. The ministry said the ships were being escorted to a port in Yemen by a U.S. Navy warship at the request of the South Korean government, the ministry said in a statement. The two dozen sailors were comprised 10 Chinese, four South Koreans, three Vietnamese, three Indians and four Indonesians. South Korean media have reported that the Somali pirates were demanding between $700,000 and $1 million in ransom. Robertson had no comment on ransom demands, deferring to the shipping company. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #16 Send in the SEALS. Sure. Just as soon as they find a team. Then make sure it's a team that's recently rehearsed boarding a moving ship from a small boat. Or do a rehearsal once you have a team. Thing is, you have to do it out of sight of the pirates; there might be someone sharp enough to catch on. Or you can send in a helo with a rappelling team. It's awkward enough during an unopposed boarding. Which means lots of rehearsal. Or go in cold, and you can guarantee dead hostages. Factor in boarding an unfamiliar ship (builder's plans are really useful)and you can probably add some SEAL casualties as well. Maybe lull the pirates into complacency by doing numerous fly-bys (or make 'em even more nervous). Make it a night-boarding? Sure. Provided you have a helo crew and a SEAL team that's experienced in it. Meaning... rehearsals. The unfamiliar ship-factor is still in play. Not saying it can't be done. But it ain't Hollywood - you can't do it in 120 minutes. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-11-05 21:07 |
| #15 Yosemite Sam, where you been, ya fur bearin' varmit!?! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-05 20:55 |
| #14 We had a 25mm chain gun that worked great in these situations. Go Navy! |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2007-11-05 20:43 |
| #13 The Navy is in radio contact with pirates aboard three other ships in the region, encouraging them also to leave those ships and sail back to Somalia Send in the SEALS. |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2007-11-05 16:10 |
| #12 After beating Notre Dame the pirates should be no problem. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2007-11-05 15:48 |
| #11 Let the pirates board their skiffs, leave the mother ship, and blow them out of the water with 50 cal BMG. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-11-05 15:46 |
| #10 Go Navy! Beat Pirates! |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-11-05 15:11 |
| #9 Somali pirates left two boats they had hijacked and the two Korean-owned ships seized May 15 It sounds like the Somalis got their ransom and released the ships. The US Navy is now the world's towing service. Let the other nations rescue/escort their own damn people. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-11-05 11:20 |
| #8 I want to know why the Masters of these vessels continue to put their ships in harms way by sailing close enough to the coast for the pirates to board them. We need to be sending the bill for these liberations to the owners/insurers of these vessels. Maybe a few SEAL missions where these pirates lay their heads might be in order as well. |
| Posted by: Clager Munster7921 2007-11-05 11:13 |
| #7 Robertson said the pirates boarded skiffs after they left the hijacked ships, and headed back to Somalia. No shots were fired during the incident, she said. She gave no more details. To stop this crap, shots HAVE to be fired! |
| Posted by: Ptah 2007-11-05 11:11 |
| #6 Arrr... Make 'em walk the plank! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-11-05 09:55 |
| #5 Yeah, yeah. I want someone to shove a camera and a mike into the face of any Donk Senators who sent the Prez the note on 'no authority to attack Iran' and ask when the Senate is going to give their 'mother may I' to this obvious overreach by the executive branch to use military force in an international situation. /sarcasm off. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-11-05 09:32 |
| #4 Good job, but next time. Fire shots, lots of shots. |
| Posted by: Glusogum Ghibelline5454 2007-11-05 06:21 |
| #3 Great job guys! Yes - old as new. Thomas Jeffersons first "run in" was with moslem pirates. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-11-05 05:28 |
| #2 and a Naval vessel fired on pirate skiffs tied to a Japanese-owned ship. The article is referring to physical ties used as part of a restraint and boarding operation. |
| Posted by: Oscar Hupereth1535 2007-11-05 05:13 |
| #1 Woo Hoo!! Go Navy. Whoda thunk that the job of US Sailors in the 21st Century would be going after pirates - once again. As my mom used to say, "All that is old is new." And this sentence from the article needs a bit more detail, does it not? and a Naval vessel fired on pirate skiffs tied to a Japanese-owned ship. |
| Posted by: Unutle McGurque8861 2007-11-05 04:37 |