Oh, the ignominy...

[benEzra]

Lord Nelson and Churchill must be rolling in their graves...

Somali pirates hijack ship, British guards escape

NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali pirates hijacked a chemical tanker with dozens of Indian crew members Friday and a helicopter rescued three British security guards who had jumped into the sea, officials said.

A warship on patrol nearby sent helicopters to intervene in the attack, but they arrived after pirates had taken control of the Liberian-flagged ship, according to Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Malaysia.

The ship master had sent a distress call to the piracy reporting center, which relayed the alert to international forces policing Somali waters, Choong said. No details about how the pirates attacked or the condition of the crew were available immediately.

Choong said the ship was being operated out of Singapore.

Still on board were 25 Indian and two Bangladeshi crew members, said diplomats who could not be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The British security guards escaped by jumping into the water, said a news release issued by their company, Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions.

The company said it was aware of the incident on the chemical tanker it identified as M/V BISCAGLIA.

"We have been informed by coalition military authorities that three of our unarmed security staff were rescued from the water by a coalition helicopter and are currently on board a coalition warship in the Gulf of Aden," the company statement said.

German Defense Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe confirmed that a naval helicopter lifted three people out of the water in the Gulf of Aden at about 4 a.m. Friday morning and deposited them on a French ship.

Germany and France have ships in the area as part of a NATO fleet which, along with warships from Denmark, India, Malaysia, Russia and the U.S., have started patrolling the vast maritime corridor. They escort some merchant ships and respond to distress calls.

The ship hijacked Friday was the 97th vessel to be attacked this year off Somalia, where an Islamic insurgency and lack of effective government have contributed to an increase in pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

Ships "must continue to maintain a 24-hour vigil and radar watch so they can take early measures to escape pirates. Even though there are patrols, the warships cannot be everywhere at the same time," Choong said.

Pirates have become increasingly brazen in the Gulf, a major international shipping lane through which about 20 tankers sail daily.

Forty ships have been hijacked this year, including a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of crude oil Nov. 15.

Pirates demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms hold 15 ships and nearly 300 crew, Choong said.

Somalia, an impoverished nation in the Horn of Africa, has not had a functioning government since 1991.

___

Associated Press Writer Sean Yoong contributed to this report from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

You can't blame the guards, though, just the geniuses who thought it would be a great idea to use UNARMED "GUARDS" to protect the crew and tens of thousands of tons of chemicals from pirates.

"Back off, ye dogs, or we'll be forced to use harsh language!"

:banghead:

 

[WardenWolf]

Wonder if those "guards" had prior work as a nightclub bouncer. Sounds to me like it would be direct work experience for this job.

 

[ants]

Weren't the guards on board to protect the crew from each other during the voyage?

 

[Just Jim]

Alot of difference between a Brittish sailor now and in WWII. A sailor for the brits in WWII named Brown took on a German ship with a captured rifle and killed enough Germans who were repairing the ship to delay it 18 hours. Thus allowing part of the Brit fleet to find the Germans and sink them.

Today there is no use for the PC Brits to be out in public.

jj

 

[benEzra]

Weren't the guards on board to protect the crew from each other during the voyage?

No, to wit:

The British security guards escaped by jumping into the water, said a news release issued by their company, Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions.

They were probably there primary to impress the insurance underwriters that "we have a licensed British security team on board", and therefore hopefully get a lower insurance rate than your typical bulk carrier or supertanker that is "guarded" only by its unarmed crew. Their "security" function was probably to make sure the lights were on, exterior doors locked, and fire hoses plugged in when they were in a dangerous area.

I'm sure this is even more embarassing for "Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions, LLC" than it is for Brits in general.

http://apmss.co.uk/

FWIW, APMSS only hires ex-Royal Marines, so these weren't former bouncers; they were former UK military. Can't say I blame them terribly, as they were given a really bad hand to play. More on the company, from their website:

http://apmss.co.uk/What_We_Do.html

APMSS What We Do

Anti Piracy Maritime Security Service (Non-Lethal)

With global expertise, the APMSS Maritime Security Team has a thorough understanding of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ISPS Code and its binding legal requirements for ports, shipping firms and individual vessels.

Our specialist commercial maritime security team is recognized for its expertise, unique approach and proven track record.

We have developed a unique range of services for merchant ship owners and managers that operate commercial vessels of all sizes.

Our maritime security team is drawn from a wide variety of professionals including former UK Special Forces (Special Boat Service, anti-terrorist units), Navy, Army and Police.

The rapid deployment of maritime security teams into hostile regions and situations is our speciality.

Global services provided by APMSS:

Shore-side reception party

* Shore based security teams.
* Vessel based security teams.
* NON Lethal equipment sales and leasing
(Long Range Acoustic Device, Magnetic Audio Device, Thermal Imagers, Night Sun Torches, Anti Boarding Systems)
* Travel management.
* Security Assessments for Ports and Yachts.
* Security Training; at sea and in port procedures.
* Emergency Management services.
* Technical Security Systems Consultancy.
* Rapid Response teams.

 

[Just One Shot]

What's next soldiers without rifles???????



Seriously, a security gaurd without a weapon is like a fireman without a hose. It really doesn't make any sense especially when gaurding a ship travelling in well known pirate infested waters!

:banghead:

 

[woodybrighton]

yes but try rocking up in a port with a load of guns on board :banghead:
not going to happen.
plus any sort of bulk fuel carrier being a bit too aggressive means the bad guys start lobbing rpgs at you and thats no place to be

 

[Tommygunn]

As ludicrous as it is that "security" personnel are unarmed, the problem isn't really the pansification of the British, it's International maritime laws, which forbid arming of ship's crews.
If enough $$$ is lost to these pirates the businesses will whine loud enough and ...maybe ... this will change.

 

[RNDMEVIL]

Sounds like a riddle. What do you call an un-armed security guard on a ship? A passenger.

 

[Pulse]

As ludicrous as it is that "security" personnel are unarmed, the problem isn't really the pansification of the British, it's International maritime laws, which forbid arming of ship's crews.
If enough $$$ is lost to these pirates the businesses will whine loud enough and ...maybe ... this will change.

are you sure about that?
as far as i have been told, the big international insurance companys refuse to pay if the crew is armed?

 

[acdodd]

Sounds like a riddle. What do you call an un-armed security guard on a ship? A passenger.

Or another hostage.

 

[rfwobbly]

What do you call an un-armed security guard on a ship? A passenger.

Obviously not. Call him a swimmer !

 

[akodo]

The rapid deployment of maritime security teams into hostile regions and situations is our speciality.

Translation. We will get our guys there really fast, but once they are there, they will run and hide.

 

[Speedo66]

Hmm, I recently heard about that company on NPR radio, and their spokesperson was bragging about the fact that no ship had ever been hijacked with their experts on board.

Oh well, I guess everything changes eventually.

 

[benEzra]

Hmm, I recently heard about that company on NPR radio, and their spokesperson was bragging about the fact that no ship had ever been hijacked with their experts on board.

This ship wasn't hijacked with their operatives on board. The operatives jumped into the sea first.

 

[nwilliams]

What the heck are unarmed security guards going to do against heavily armed pirates?

Merchant ships were better protected back during the Golden Age of Piracy and their technology consisted of canons and men with muskets and swords

 

[HeavenlySword]

Its all because the stupid bureaucratic mess known as the 'United Nations' which believes people can't be trusted with weapons.

The British turned into pansies when the state took their rights and they didn't do anything.


Remember, hire American ;p

 

[rbernie]

Our specialist commercial maritime security team is recognized for its expertise, unique approach and proven track record.

I don't think that leaping into the sea is a unique approach to dealing with piracy.

 

[misANTHrope]

A different perspective:

Three British guards jumped overboard and were rescued from the water after battling in vain to prevent pirates hijacking a chemical tanker off the coast of Somalia.

The Liberian-flagged Biscaglia came under "sustained and heavy attack" early Friday morning, Nick Davis, Director of Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions (APMSS), said in a statement.

The three APMSS-employed security guards -- all former British servicemen -- mounted "sustained non-lethal resistance" but were unable to stop the attackers seizing control of the ship, Davis said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/28/somalia.pirates.chemical.tanker/index.html

So it doesn't sound like they just bailed out at the first sign of trouble.

 

[Zoogster]

Somali pirates hijack yet another ship, British guards jump overboard

Yet another ship was hijacked by Somali pirates on November.
A chemical tanker reported this time.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-pirates29-2008nov29,0,1927192.story

Somali pirates hijack ship; British guards escape
From the Associated Press
4:59 AM PST, November 28, 2008


NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates hijacked a chemical tanker with dozens of Indian crew members today and a helicopter rescued three British security guards who had jumped into the sea, officials said.

A warship on patrol nearby sent helicopters to intervene in the attack, but they arrived after pirates had taken control of the Liberian-flagged ship, according to Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Malaysia.



Complete coverage of Somali piratesSomali pirates release tanker, crew safe, ransom paid
Shipowners call for blockade to fight piracy
The ship master had sent a distress call to the piracy reporting center, which relayed the alert to international forces policing Somali waters, Choong said. No details about how the pirates attacked or the condition of the crew were available immediately.

Choong said the ship was being operated out of Singapore.

Still on board were 25 Indian and two Bangladeshi crew members, said diplomats who could not be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The British security guards escaped by jumping into the water, said a news release issued by their company, Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions.


The company said it was aware of the incident on the chemical tanker it identified as M/V BISCAGLIA.

"We have been informed by coalition military authorities that three of our unarmed security staff were rescued from the water by a coalition helicopter and are currently on board a coalition warship in the Gulf of Aden," the company statement said.

German Defense Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe confirmed that a naval helicopter lifted three people out of the water in the Gulf of Aden at about 4 a.m. and deposited them on a French ship.

Germany and France have ships in the area as part of a NATO fleet which, along with warships from Denmark, India, Malaysia, Russia and the U.S., have started patrolling the vast maritime corridor. They escort some merchant ships and respond to distress calls.

The ship hijacked today was the 97th vessel to be attacked this year off Somalia, where an Islamic insurgency and lack of effective government have contributed to an increase in pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

Ships "must continue to maintain a 24-hour vigil and radar watch so they can take early measures to escape pirates. Even though there are patrols, the warships cannot be everywhere at the same time," Choong said.

Pirates have become increasingly brazen in the Gulf, a major international shipping lane through which about 20 tankers sail daily.

Forty ships have been hijacked this year, including a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of crude oil Nov. 15.

Pirates demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms hold 15 ships and nearly 300 crew, Choong said.

Somalia, an impoverished nation in the Horn of Africa, has not had a functioning government since 1991.

Here is a better report of the events:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/347/story/693922.html

Somali pirates seized control of a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and a NATO helicopter gunship, too late to prevent the hijacking, picked up three security guards who jumped into the sea.

Both France and Germany, which have ships in the area as part of an international anti-piracy coalition, sent the aircraft after receiving a distress call just after dawn, French military spokesman Cmdr. Christophe Prazuck said. But in the 15 minutes it took to get to the site, the pirates had already boarded and had taken the crew of 25 Indians and two Bangladeshis hostage.

The two British guards who leapt overboard with their Irish colleague were safe onboard a French warship, he said.

Germany and France have ships in the area as part of a NATO fleet which, along with warships from Denmark, India, Malaysia, Russia and the U.S., have started patrolling the vast maritime corridor.

They escort some merchant ships and respond to distress calls in the fight against increasingly brazen pirate attacks off Somalia's coast, a major international shipping lane through which about 20 tankers sail daily. Friday's was the 97th ship hijacking this year.

One of the hijacked ships, the Malta-flagged cargo ship Centauri, was released Thursday with all 25 Filipino crew unharmed after more than two months in the hands of pirates, Greece announced.

The ship hijacked Friday, the Liberian-flagged MV Biscaglia, is operated out of Singapore, said Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Malaysia.

The pirates are growing bolder. Hugh Martin, manager of Hart Security, said 20 speedboats filled with pirates launched a simultaneous attack on two slow-moving companion vessels off the south coast of Yemen on Thursday. Hart staff onboard both ships were armed, but managed to use evasive maneuvers and non-lethal methods to prevent the pirates from boarding during the four hour attack.

On Friday, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said it was possible the U.N. might pass a new resolution with more aggressive rules of engagement.

"Even harsher sanctions, harsher measures, harsher calls to the international community may be passed," he told Russian TV channel Vesti-24. "It would give the possibility for more energetic actions by the naval forces of those countries, including Russia, that have dispatched their ships (to Somalia) for the fight against piracy."

The U.S. navy says it is impossible to patrol all 2.5 million miles of dangerous waters. It has called on ship owners to hire private security contractors to protect vulnerable vessels, leading to a boom in business some contractors fear will encourage unlicensed or inexperienced companies to cash in.

Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions, which employs the three guards who leapt off the Biscaglia on Friday, says on its Web site that it was formed in July 2008 and all its staff are ex-Royal Marines. They do not carry weapons.

Many companies prefer non-lethal methods of deterring pirates, including evasive maneuvers, electrifying handrails and the use of sonic weapons that can blast a wave of painful sound up to half a miles (one kilometer) away.

Cyrus Mody, head of the International Maritime Bureau, said the onus should be on international navies and not individual ship owners to ensure their vessels' protection. He said the governments whose navies patrol the Gulf of Aden must strengthen their rules of engagement and put a legal framework in place to try suspected pirates.

"You don't have to blow them out of the water, just confiscate the weapons and the ship," he said. Navies needed to patrol more aggressively, boarding and searching suspected "mother ships" from which pirates launched their small fast attack boats, Mody said. Navies now are reluctant to search or detain suspected pirates because their legal standing is unclear, he said.

Somalia, an impoverished Horn of Africa nation, has not had a functioning government since 1991 and it cannot police its long coastline.

Employing private security who are "ex-Royal Marines" but do not carry weapons seems rather pointless.
Especialy when the company is titled "Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions". "Anti-Piracy", in waters where the pirates are very well armed by definition should include weapons.

 

[Starship1st]

Why will no one take care of these pirates, once and for all?

 

[Shung]

I want to sign up for that anti piracy job !!! please, teach me ! lol

 

[JimmAr]

Hopefully someone will contract Black Water to take a scroll out that way..

 

[conkmwc]

Isn't this the whole reason we have submarines? I just don't get it!

 

[MIL-DOT]

(quote) "the problem isn't really the pansification of the British, it's International maritime laws, which forbid arming of ship's crews."

Just a hypothetical solution : What if these large ships were to tow a smaller launch,or raise and lower one with its davit (crane), and leave some of the guards and the weapons out at sea, beyond the 20 mile limit when it goes into a port, then pick up the launch with weapons on board when it returns to international waters ? They could legally be as armed as they wanted to be 90% of the time, and be un-armed for only a 20 mile jouney to and from a presumably safe/freindly port.