Pirates! Activity Around the world

[American Patriot]

I thought it.

[American Patriot]

The four persons aboard the yacht were killed by pirates. Naval forces (unknown at this time if it was US Forces) attempted to take down the pirates. When they got on board - the four crew members were killed. Two men, two women.

I hope the Navy killed those fuckers. Twice.

[American Patriot]

L.A. NOW

Southern California -- this just in


Four American hostages killed by Somali pirates during rescue attempt [Updated]

Comments (0)





February 22, 2011 | 6:31 am

Four Americans, including a couple from Southern California, who were taken hostage by Somali pirates were fatally wounded by their captors while negotiations between the pirates and U.S. military forces were underway in the Gulf of Aden, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday.


The four were aboard the vessel Quest, taken hostage last week.


"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest," said Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of Central Command.


[Updated, 6:45 a.m.: The bodies of the four Americans are on board the carrier Enterprise off the Horn of Africa, according to Central Command.]


Two of the pirates were killed and 13 captured, Mattis said. After boarding the Quest, military personnel found the bodies of two other pirates. The incident occurred about 1 a.m. EST.


Four U.S. Navy ships had been shadowing the Quest after it was taken over by the pirates, Mattis said. While negotiations were underway to gain the release of the Americans, U.S. forces responded to gunfire aboard the Quest. The four Americans had been shot, Mattis said.


"Despite immediate steps to provide lifesaving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds," according to a statement from Central Command.


The four Americans also included a couple from the Seattle area.
-- Tony Perry in San Diego

[American Patriot]

Americans slain by captors on hijacked yacht; pirates killed, arrested

By the CNN Wire Staff
February 22, 2011 -- Updated 1454 GMT (2254 HKT)


The U.S. military was shadowing the yacht, named the Quest, after pirates captured it last week off Oman.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: All 4 Americans on the yacht were shot to death, officials say
• NEW: 15 pirates in custody, another 4 are dead
• The yacht was hijacked on Friday
• It was being shadowed by the military

Check out CNN affiliate KING-TV in Seattle for a report on what was supposed to a couple's dream trip.


(CNN) -- Four hostages on board a yacht hijacked by pirates last week were killed by their captors, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Tuesday.



The vessel, named the Quest, was being shadowed by the military after being captured by pirates off the coast of Oman on Friday. Officials had said earlier Tuesday it was less than two days from the Somali coast.



Americans Jean and Scott Adam -- the owners of the ship -- and Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, had been traveling with yachts participating in the Blue Water Rally since their departure from Phuket, Thailand, rally organizers said Sunday in a statement on the event's website. The group, which organizes long-distance group cruises, said the Quest broke off on February 15 after leaving Mumbai, India, to take a different route.
As negotiations were ongoing with the pirates for the hostages' release, gunfire was heard at about 1 a.m. ET Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said.






U.S. military shadowing hijacked boat



Pastor prays for captured couple
RELATED TOPICS

• Pirates
• Somalia

"As (U.S. forces) responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors," the statement said. "Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds."


The pirates engaged the U.S. forces on board, officials said. Two pirates were killed in the skirmish and 13 were captured and detained. Two others were already in U.S. forces custody, the statement said, and the remains of two pirates were found on board. "In total, it is believed 19 pirates were involved in the hijacking" of the vessel, Central Command said.


Forces had been monitoring the Quest for three days, officials said. Four U.S. Navy warships were involved in the response force -- an aircraft carrier, a guided-missile cruiser and two guided-missile destroyers, according to the statement.


A senior military official said on Monday the military was trailing the yacht. U.S. officials have not identified the people on board the ship, but confirmed that four U.S. citizens were involved.


Another U.S. official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the situation, said previously that the United States was determining what military assets were in the region and the capabilities of the personnel on board.



Piracy has flourished off the coast of Somalia, which has not had an effective government for two decades. In April 2009, pirates seized the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, leading to a standoff in the Indian Ocean.


U.S. forces moved to rescue American Capt. Richard Phillips after seeing a pirate aiming a weapon on his back, officials said at the time.


Three pirates were killed and one was arrested. The Somali man arrested was convicted of acts related to high-seas piracy and was sentenced last week in New York to more than 30 years in prison by a federal court.

[Ryan Ruck]

That's really disgusting...

We should bring back privateers and start paying for killed/captured pirates. It worked back then, it would work now. Only problem are the restrictions on private ownership of weapons that would be most effective against them.

[American Patriot]

There are no private ownership of weapons issues, Ryan... are you talking about being able to purchase automatic weapons? You can do it... just takes money and time, and it takes following the BATFs idiotic regulations to the LETTER.

But it can be done.

[Ryan Ruck]

Oh believe me, I know all about the red tape that is NFA.

But there are none of these that are transferable:

[Malsua]

This makes me sick.

Take the gloves off and sink these fuckers on sight then shell the bases on shore till they get the idea.

[American Patriot]

This makes me sick.

Take the gloves off and sink these fuckers on sight then shell the bases on shore till they get the idea.

Mal,

I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, the world "community" won't allow it.

In REALITY - the US Navy could easily wipe them if they did that kind of job, but they won't unless they are certain these guys are pirates. And we don't have enough intelligence on the physical locations of their bases (I do know for a fact that we don't)...

But given the size of the ocean there it's difficult at best to cover the region with our ships alone. Secondly, they do use radar and a "mother ship" from which to patrol. Their operations consist of hovering around, watching for signatures and then sending out one or two power boats loaded with armed men to get a visual on the target.

When they can see the target is a soft target they will attempt to hit it while keeping the "Mother Ship" away until they have seized the vessel. If they identify the target as a hard target they sheer off and go back home. The problem with shooting them on "sight" is getting them in sight is difficult until they hit a vessel and the vessel is screaming for assistance.

Most ships simply can't outrun them.

Sailboats are usually NOT targets (though have been) in the past because they simply aren't "worth enough". Most sailors have sunk all their money into their boat and cruising kitties and wouldn't have millions of dollars, just a couple hundred thousand to their names at most. Many can't even scrape together that much right now. Big ships are where it's at. A dozen hostages and the cargoes of one vessel worth millions and millions of dollars to a couple dozen young pirates.

Sailboats are displacement vessels and have a "max hull speed" based on the length of the boat at the waterline so any planing boat like a Zodiac, or other inflatable can get up to high speeds. Sailboats can only go 6-14 knots or so. They simply can't outrun these bastards.

My opinion is they shouldn't go that way either - but that's me. I'm sitting here comfy and safe and not going to Southern waters around the Cape either at the moment. I might have second thoughts later...

We're considering circumnavigation - but right now, I wouldn't attempt a Suez Canal path. I'd sail around the Cape of Good Hope making a Cape Town stop down there at some point, then north along the western coast of Africa and up to the Med and Europe. But that's me.

The top speed of some of the big oil tankers I'm thinking is about 15-18 knots or so. I believe they can do something between 20-25 knots if empty.

I know that skiffs and other powered boats will flat out haul ass... and honestly, not a clue how fast they CAN go, but it's based on the size of the engine(s), weight on the boat and stability. So - 40 knots isn't unlikely I'm sure. Can't out run that.

Sorry, I'm mostly thinking outloud here about all this. Those people were just regular people like the rest of us, they weren't rich folks, they didn't have millions of dollars for a ransom, the USA wasn't about to present terrorists with cash to save the lives of those people either. We would have negotiated to get them safe even at the risk of the sailboat.

Me... I'll fight and kill as many as I can before I will let them take me. They won't get shit off my boat other than a few low dollar items, and they would likely kill me and my wife, but by God we will die fighting and not with our hand tied while those fuckers shoot me in the back of the head.

[Malsua]

I'm sick of shit like this happening because liberals and western socialist are too afraid to do what needs to get done.

Our asshole pansy communist shitbag of a president won't do anything either. He's too busy skiing.

[American Patriot]

Lol...I like you Malusa, I really do honestly.

In a totally heterosexual manly kind of way.

hahahaha

[American Patriot]

Posted: 9:36 a.m. yesterday
Updated: 9:11 a.m. today
US: Pirates held for 4 US deaths may face trial





This undated photo provided by the Del Rey Yacht Club shows the Quest, a sailboat piloted by Scott and Jean Adam who were killed Tuesday Feb. 22, 2011 by Somali pirates after being taken hostage Friday several hundred miles south of Oman. (AP Photo/Del Rey Yacht Club) NO SALES

The Del Rey Yacht Club, home port to Jean and Scott Adam, who with two companions were slain by Somali pirates who seized their yacht off East Africa, is seen in Marina Del Rey, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
1 / 2


By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press
NAIROBI, Kenya — A U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday it was possible that 15 pirates detained after the killing of four American yacht enthusiasts could be sent to the United States to face trial.


The military, FBI and Justice Department are working on the next steps for the pirates, said Bob Prucha, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command in Florida. The 15 are currently being held on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which is in the waters off East Africa.


A pirate aboard the hijacked yacht Quest on Tuesday fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a U.S. warship that had responded to last Friday's hijacking. Then gunfire broke out aboard the yacht. When Navy special forces reached the Quest, they found the four American hostages had been shot and killed.


The FBI is investigating the killings of Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle of Seattle, Washington, and Jean and Scott Adam of Marina del Rey, near Los Angeles, who had made their home aboard their 58-foot yacht Quest since December 2004.


Prucha couldn't say whether the FBI had yet interviewed the 15 suspects.
The killings came less than a week after a Somali pirate was sentenced to more than 33 years in prison by a New York court for the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. That hijacking ended when Navy sharpshooters killed two pirates holding the ship's captain.


Pirates reacted angrily to the sentencing and have since vowed that they will kill hostages before being captured during military raids and being sent to face trial.


That could represent a serious change from the time when pirates were believed to be disgruntled and financially motivated Somali fishermen angry that international trawlers were illegally fishing Somalia's waters.


Criminal gangs now dominate the piracy trade, and have begun systematically torturing hostages, including tying them upside down and dragging them in the sea, locking them in freezers and beating them.



Pirates have also used the hostages as human shields.


"What we're seeing is that because of the business model the pirates have adopted is so lucrative that you're now getting organized criminal gangs involved as opposed to fisherman who just decided to have a go at piracy," Wing Commander Paddy O'Kennedy, spokesman for the European Union's anti-piracy force.


"Criminal gangs are more violent than your average fisherman who's turned to piracy," O'Kennedy said.


Piracy has plagued the shipping industry off East Africa for years, but the violence used during the attacks — and the money demanded in ransoms — have increased in recent months. Pirates now hold some 30 ships and more than 660 hostages.


The average ransom now paid to pirates is in the $5 million range, a huge leap from only three or four years ago when it was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, said Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House. One ransom paid last year was just shy of $10 million.


"It's really gone up, really an enormous amount," Middleton said. "If you think you can get a $9.5 million ransom, I suppose the logic is that you try any means possible to get there, and if that means scaring some crews and owners more, I guess that's what you do," he said, alluding to the recent reports of torture.


Industry experts warned Wednesday that there is still a key piece of missing information after the deaths of the four Americans on Tuesday, and it's not clear if the deaths will require a wholesale change in the way the shipping industry and the militaries patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean operate.


The U.S. military said a pirate fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a Navy warship, and that gunfire was heard on board the Quest. Why that violence broke out — whether because of an internal pirate fight or an attempted escape by the hostages — is not publicly known.


"For us it's too soon. We don't know what happened yesterday so we're not going to make any knee-jerk decisions," O'Kennedy said. "But our policy remains the same. Nothing is off the table. All options are open to us as a military force."

[Ryan Ruck]

US: Pirates held for 4 US deaths may face trial

This is all the trial they should have had...

[American Patriot]

That's all they are getting if they board my vessel. IF they board it.

[American Patriot]

/chuckles


Michael - no one has any wrong ideas about you or anyone else. We all have our opinions, you, me, Kos, Aplomb, Ryan. Aplomb is the only one wrong all the time though.

/snicker

[American Patriot]

Hosted by Google Back to Google News
Somali pirates seize Greek ship

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

BRUSSELS — Somali pirates on Monday hijacked a Greek-owned ship carrying a crew including 19 Filipinos, three Romanians and a Russian in the Arabian Sea, the EU naval mission said.

The bulk cargo carrier Dover was on its way to Saleef, Yemen, from Port Quasim, Pakistan, when it was attacked by the pirates around 260 nautical miles northeast of Salalah at 0600 GMT, the EU Navfor mission said.

"Details of the attack are not known at this time," the anti-piracy armada said in a statement.

"There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew," it said.

The Dover was registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn Of Africa, which monitors the movement of ships in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.

Prior to this latest hijacking, pirates were holding 31 vessels and 688 hostages off the coast of Somalia, according to the latest Navfor figures released last Friday.

Piracy has surged in recent years off Somalia, a lawless, war-torn country that sits alongside one of the world's most important shipping routes, with seafaring gangs venturing further and further out to sea to capture ships.

[American Patriot]

Pinoy Abroad

Pirates seize ship with 19 Pinoy seafarers on board
02/28/2011 | 08:53 PM

After releasing 20 Filipino seafarers on Saturday, pirates struck anew on Monday seizing a bulk cargo carrier with 19 Filipino seafarers on board, according to the European Union's Naval Force (EU-NAVFOR) in Somalia.

EU-NAVFOR said the bulk cargo carrier MV Dover was seized by pirates about 260 nautical miles northeast of Salalah in the North Arabian Sea.

“The MV DOVER has a crew of 23 (3 Romanian, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos). There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew," it said in a bulletin posted on its website Monday evening.

It cited initial reports that the incident occurred at 6 a.m.

The Panamanian-flagged, Greek-owned vessel was attacked on its way to Saleef in Yemen from Port Quasim in Pakistan.

However, no other details of the attack were immediately available.

The EU-NAVFOR said MV Dover was registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA), and was reporting to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

EU-NAVFOR said it is continuing to monitor the situation.

This brings to 137 the total number of Filipino seafarers held captive by Somali pirates in 12 vessels.

The most recent incident occurred just as the Department of Foreign Affairs announced the release of the MV Izumi with 20 Filipino seafarers on board last Feb. 26.

MV Izumi, a Japanese-owned, Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel was hijacked last Oct. 10 while heading to the Kenyan Port of Mombasa from Japan. – MRT/VS, GMA News

[American Patriot]

Pirates seize Greek-owned bulk carrier off Oman
Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:42am GMT

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Pirates seized a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the North Arabian sea on Monday, taking the 23-strong crew hostage, the European Union's anti-piracy taskforce said.

EU Navfor said the MV Dover was hijacked about 260 nautical miles north east of Salalah in Oman. Communication with the vessel had been lost, it said.

"The Panamanian flagged, Greek owned vessel was on its way to Saleef (Yemen) from Port Quasim (Pakistan) when it was attacked," EU Navfor said in a statement.

The crew include three Romanian citizens, one Russian and 19 Filipinos.

Somalia has been mired in violence and awash with weapons since the overthrow of a dictator two decades ago, allowing piracy to flourish off the lawless nation's shores.

Preying on merchant vessels and pleasure boats, the pirates rake in tens of millions of dollars a year in ransoms.

[American Patriot]

Sources say Americans detained pirate negotiators

By the CNN Wire Staff
February 27, 2011 -- Updated 1959 GMT (0359 HKT)




Behind a pirate takedown



STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: A second source says two pirates were detained by U.S. forces
• Four Americans were killed after pirates hijacked their vessel
• Negotiations for their release had been under way, involving the FBI
• Two pirates had boarded a U.S. Navy ship Monday for talks

RELATED TOPICS

• Somalia
• Pirates

(CNN) -- Before two pirate leaders departed the captured yacht where they held four Americans earlier this month, a maritime source says they left instructions: Kill the hostages if we do not come back from negotiations.


U.S. officials later took the two negotiating pirates into custody -- a move that goes against standard negotiation practices, the maritime source said.


The four Americans were later killed, but it is not clear why.


Also not clear is when during the negotiations -- or why -- the Americans detained the two pirate negotiators.


The pirates' detention goes against standard negotiating practices, as the pirates came in good faith to make a deal to hand over the hostages, said the maritime source, who was briefed on the incident and has connections to British intelligence officials.


The source asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.


U.S. Central Command declined to comment on whether officials detained the pirates and said the FBI and the Justice Department have the lead in the case. The Justice Department had no comment Sunday. On Friday, the FBI said there was no comment due to the continuing investigation.


However, a U.S. government official told CNN the talks with the two pirate negotiators faltered when it was determined the men "had no authority to negotiate anything."



American officials then took the men into custody rather then let them return to the yacht, the U.S. official said.


"It would be unfathomable to have put them back on the boat where they might have done harm to the hostages," the official said, disagreeing with a published report that the detention of two fellow pirates might have upset those still aboard the captured yacht -- named the Quest -- who were holding four Americans.


"There was no change in mood, no escalation" and gunfire broke out on the Quest more than eight hours later, the U.S. official said.


The official took issue with a New York Times report that said the FBI's hostage negotiator aboard the USS Sterett decided the two Somalis were not serious about resolving the matter, which led U.S. officials to take the two men into custody and ask for a new representative from the pirates.


According to the the U.S. official, who was not authorized to discuss the Quest hijacking on the record, the issue was not whether the two pirates were serious about negotiating, but that they lacked the power to cut a deal.


The American side continued trying to negotiate via radio with those still aboard the yacht and made an offer, and were told by the suspects aboard the Quest they would sleep on the matter before providing a reply, the U.S. official said. The Navy also tried to contact Somalis on land who might be able to exert influence over the men holding the Quest.


The FBI hostage negotiator is part of a special team based at Quantico, Virginia, and had field experience, the U.S. official said. It was unclear if that experience included any previous negotiations with Somali pirates.


Americans Jean and Scott Adam, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle were found shot to death after U.S. forces boarded the Quest around 1 a.m. Tuesday, U.S. officials have said.


The 58-foot yacht was being shadowed at the time by the military after pirates took it over off the coast of Oman on February 18.


U.S. forces had responded after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a U.S. Navy ship about 600 yards away -- and missed -- and the sound of gunfire could be heard on board the Quest, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Mark Fox has said. The killings took place as negotiations involving the FBI were under way for the hostages' release.


When Fox spoke last week, he said two pirates boarded a U.S. Navy ship Monday for talks. He told reporters he had no information on details of the negotiations or whether a ransom had been offered.


Two pirates were found dead on board the Quest, said Fox. In the process of clearing the vessel, U.S. forces killed two others, he said. Thirteen other pirates were captured and detained on the Quest, along with the other two already aboard the U.S. Navy ship.


Fox said authorities believe the pirates were trying to get the vessel and hostages to Somalia, or at least into Somali territorial waters.


Piracy has flourished recently off the coast of Somalia, which has not had an effective government for two decades.


Globally, more than 50 pirate attacks have already taken place in 2011. As of February 15 -- the most recent statistic posted on the International Maritime Bureau's website, pirates were holding 33 vessels and 712 hostages.

[American Patriot]

Breaking News:

Another YACHT has been hijacked off Somalia.

The yacht is a sailing vessel, containing persons from Denmark. Seven people, 3 or 4 of them are CHILDREN.

The boat was captured last Thursday. I'll see what else I can get.