Somali Pirates Hijack Supertanker - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

diametricalbenz · #1 11-17-2008, 05:33 PM

It appears that they are targeting progressively larger assets which indicates that they're quite comfortable pirating whomever they feel like.

I wonder if they're forgotten that SBS and SEAL's exist?

aklim · #2 11-17-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diametricalbenz

It appears that they are targeting progressively larger assets which indicates that they're quite comfortable pirating whomever they feel like.

I wonder if they're forgotten that SBS and SEAL's exist?

The more you pay off the ransom the more they will milk it for all it is worth. Why should anyone be surprised?

But would the countries have the stones to send the SEALs and SBS to kill everyone there even if there are hostages?

diametricalbenz · #3 11-17-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

The more you pay off the ransom the more they will milk it for all it is worth. Why should anyone be surprised?

But would the countries have the stones to send the SEALs and SBS to kill everyone there even if there are hostages?

It's a Saudi ship so I am eager to see who they make phone calls to. Nobody wants a loss of life (the crew), a lost ship, wasted oil and an ecological disaster making things worse than they are already to further compound the situation.

The crew apparently isn't of high enough value to exercise any military action but there will be a tipping point eventually.

If we wanted to get creative we should de-mothball a Pegasus hydrofoil (if any are left). Q-boat it with white paint, deck chairs and a striped awning.....

rwthomas1 · #4 11-17-2008, 07:55 PM

There is a very simple answer to this:

Allow commercial shipping to hire, ala Blackwater, etc, private security and arm the ships with 6 quad .50 mounts. Two forward, two astern and one each at midships. Authorize deadly force if approached by unresponsive vessel, vessel at high speed, unlighted, unannounced, etc. The gun mounts could be modular and removable to allow them to quickly swap ship to ship. Simple and extremely effective. Dunno the range of an RPG but a .50, especially 4 of them will reach out to 1000yards plus. Not much other than military armor will stop them.

Deploy Global Hawk(s) or whatever the next generation of armed long endurance unmanned vehicles are called. Loiter overhead, watch these bozos, then hit them with a Hellfire missile when the time is right. Very easy and they won't even know what happened.

RT

Fulcrum525 · #5 11-17-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

There is a very simple answer to this:

Allow commercial shipping to hire, ala Blackwater, etc, private security and arm the ships with 6 quad .50 mounts. Two forward, two astern and one each at midships. Authorize deadly force if approached by unresponsive vessel, vessel at high speed, unlighted, unannounced, etc. The gun mounts could be modular and removable to allow them to quickly swap ship to ship. Simple and extremely effective. Dunno the range of an RPG but a .50, especially 4 of them will reach out to 1000yards plus. Not much other than military armor will stop them.

Good plan, only one small flaw. $$$$$$$$$$$$

I wonder if shipping companies would be willing to do it. Isn't the cargo in a ship usually insured?

rwthomas1 · #6 11-17-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Good plan, only one small flaw. $$$$$$$$$$$$

I wonder if shipping companies would be willing to do it. Isn't the cargo in a ship usually insured?

Yes, the cargo is insured and the ship is insured. How long will it be and how much will it cost to keep insuring ships if this crap keeps up? If insurance companies have to pay out enough this will change. Sooner or later the cost of armed security will be cheaper than insurance. Hell, the insurance may REQUIRE it. RT

Fulcrum525 · #7 11-17-2008, 08:24 PM

Good point.

cmac2012 · #8 11-19-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

Yes, the cargo is insured and the ship is insured. How long will it be and how much will it cost to keep insuring ships if this crap keeps up? If insurance companies have to pay out enough this will change. Sooner or later the cost of armed security will be cheaper than insurance. Hell, the insurance may REQUIRE it. RT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081027/ap_on_re_af/af_somalia_piracy_protection

Pirate attacks have driven up insurance premiums tenfold for ships plying the Gulf of Aden, increasing the cost of cargos that include a fifth of the world's oil. But some insurers will slash charges by up to 40 percent if boats hire their own security. Earlier this month, British security firm Hart launched the first joint venture with an insurance company, offering discounted premiums for ships sailing past Somalia that used Hart's guards.

jlomon · #9 11-18-2008, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Isn't the cargo in a ship usually insured?

This will ultimately be what drives action. Piracy will affect the insurance rates of any ship that has to sail those waters, regardless of flag flown or true country of ownership. If insurers make it too expensive, or worse refuse coverage at all, then it means having to transit around the horn of Africa instead, which takes more time and burns more gas - costing everyone more money. As soon as there is a serious impact on commerce you'll see real and decisive action from major powers, even if their shipping has never been directly threatened.