The Threat of Modern Piracy- A Merged Thread

[CougarKing]

This should teach those pirates!

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/11/admiral-wants-p.html

Admiral's 'Urgent' Plea: Pirate-Fighting Sonic Blasters
By Noah Shachtman November 06, 2008 | 12:30:00 PMCategories: Africa, Less-lethal, Ships and Subs 
Three years ago, Somali pirates attacked a cruise ship -- and were sent running by a sonic blaster. Now, a leading Navy admiral wants to see his ships equipped with sound weapons, too. Or maybe with pain rays.

Fifth Fleet commander Vice Adm. Bill Gortney issued an "urgent" request for "nonlethal weapons that could keep cruisers and destroyers to keep small boats at bay," Navy Times reports. Fifth Fleet is the branch of the Navy that is currently dealing with the Somali pirate threat, among other things.  

“If you’re the [commanding officer] of a DDG [destroyer] ... and you see these small boats coming, all you can do is shoot at them,” Marine Maj. Gen. Tom Benes, director of expeditionary warfare for the chief of naval operations, tells Navy Times. “Nonlethal weapons give you the ability to cover that gap.”

The Navy already has about 45 of the sonic blasters, known as Long Range Acoustic Devices, or LRADs. Sailors use 'em to talk to ships as far as 500 yards away. They "plug the LRAD into an MP3 player to broadcast pre-recorded warnings in Somali or Arabic, or... to blast heavy metal music. Or they can repel small boats with a built-in klaxon," Navy Times notes. (Here's a video of Georgian police using the things.) For another $4 million, a blaster could be outfitted on every one of Fifth Fleet's surface ships, port and starboard.

But what if the pirates get wise, and start wearing earplugs? Well, the Navy could ramp things up another few notches, and deploy on its ships the military's controversial pain ray, the Active Denial System.

The ray gun has been tested thousands of times. But a recently-revealed military report showed that operators still are largely ignorant about how to fire the energy weapon. Important safety features have been removed, as well. The result: test subjects have been exposed to "unconscionable risks," according to one Pentagon official. Another independent study cited the weapon's "potential for death."

What's more, "engineers would have to design a deck mount [for the zapper] to compensate for a ship’s pitch and roll. The Navy would have to determine where and how to mount it on a ship’s deck and whether it would be integrated into other combat systems," Navy Times observes. And after all that,"it’s unclear whether the ray could penetrate the steel bulkhead of a surface vessel."

Another potential wrinkle with deploying the Active Denial System aboard a warship is an overall Pentagon skittishness about using it against hostile subjects. Gortney’s request is just the latest from a leader in the U.S. Central Command area. Army and Marine Corps generals have asked for ray weapons to disperse riots or guard bases, but the Pentagon has so far held off.

I'm guessing they will this time, too.

 

[geo]

Hmm... building a stabilized gun mount for the "pain/death ray" shouldn't be a problem... If they can build one that keeps an Abram's main gun steady they can certainly adapt one for the ray gun.

Important safety features have been removed = potential for death.... Duh - put them back on then - problem solved

CBS 60 Minutes did a feature on this thing a couple of years ago - Impressive

 

[OldSolduer]

What has the world come to? Sonic weapons because we don't want to physically hurt them? Give me a break. I guess I missed the lace panty issue at QM.

 

[CougarKing]

Just a couple of updates that the others forgot or missed:

Danish tanker foils pirates off Somalia
Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:32:06 GMT

Pirates have opened fire on a Danish tanker in the Gulf of Aden off the lawless coast of Somalia in a failed attempt to hijack the ship.

No crew members were injured in the Sunday incident, Denmark's navy said.

It also added that the ship's crew took measures such as spraying water from high-pressure hoses, to prevent the pirates from taking over, and by the time a Danish navy helicopter arrived, they had disappeared.

Pirates are increasingly active in the waters off Somalia which is one of the world's busiest shipping routes connecting Europe to Asia and the Middle East.

They have seized around 30 ships so far this year, taking millions in ransoms, hiking insurance costs, and threatening humanitarian supplies.

In response to a UN request, NATO ships have begun anti-piracy operations off Somalia.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=74167...ionid=351020501

On call Convoy requests on the rise
Justin Stares Brussels - Tuesday 4 November 2008

THE European Union anti-piracy cell is already receiving five requests a day from ships looking for protection from pirates in the Gulf of Aden, writes Justin Stares in Brussels.

Shipowners were initially reluctant to join the Brussels convoys but have since changed their mind, said piracy cell chief Andres Breijo.

The convoys, led by two French frigates and overseen by a Spanish reconnaissance aircraft, began offering transits to commercial shipping last month and have already been swamped by requests.

“Shipowners did not initially welcome the service because it meant adjusting their schedules and waiting for the warships to depart,” said Cap Breijo, right. “This costs money. “But since then they have changed their minds and we are now receiving five protection requests a day.”

The demand has created “asset problems” for the EU because the two frigates can only “fully” protect two ships each. Given the fortnightly sailings in each direction across the gulf, this is wholly inadequate for the 300 ships, which are in the gulf on any given day, Capt Breijo said.

But frequencies will be improved once the EU’s first armada arrives in the region in December. Separate and complementary Nato forces are also expected to take part in the convoy operation and a Russian vessel is also co-ordinating with the EU operations, Capt Breijo said.

While a frigate can only fully protect two ships, other vessels are reported to have tagged along. The French frigates have already seen off several attacks, said the EU chief, without giving details. “Other ships can stay close,” he said. “It can be a deterrent. It is better than being on the outside [of the convoy].”

Ten nations have pledged support for the EU’s first joint naval operation, scheduled to last a year. EC Audiovisual Library

http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/on-call-...d=1225729774221

A french La Fayette Class Frigate escorting a Merchant Ship at the Gulf of Aden

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Just a couple of updates that the others forgot or missed:

Or chose not to add....

 

[OldSolduer]

I'm a little irritated at all the chat about non lethal weapons to dissuade pirates who are lethal. Lethality must be met with lethality. Kill them and they will pirate no more. Sound blast them and they will find softer targets to attack.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Somali pirates hijack Danish-operated ship with 13 crew
Sat Nov 8, 2008 6:52am EST

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Somali pirates have hijacked a ship with 13 crew members on board in the Gulf of Aden, the ship's Danish operator said Saturday.

Most of the crew members are Russian and are unharmed, the Danish company Clipper Group said.

"Clipper is in close communication with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of crew and to establish contact with the hijackers," the company said.

The ship, CEC Future, is a general cargo vessel built in 1994 in Denmark and is now sailing under a Bahamian flag.

Piracy is rife off Somalia, which has been mired in anarchy since warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

The vital sealane in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia links the Middle East Gulf and Asia to Europe and beyond via the Suez Canal and is critical to Gulf oil shipments. (Reporting by Gelu Sulugiuc; Editing by Matthew Jones)

 

[Blackadder1916]

Here's something for those who may be interested in some additional details of this previously posted item.

Just a couple of updates that . . . :

On call Convoy requests on the rise
Justin Stares Brussels - Tuesday 4 November 2008

THE European Union anti-piracy cell is already receiving five requests a day from ships looking for protection from pirates in the Gulf of Aden, writes Justin Stares in Brussels.

Shipowners were initially reluctant to join the Brussels convoys but have since changed their mind, said piracy cell chief Andres Breijo.

The convoys, led by two French frigates and overseen by a Spanish reconnaissance aircraft, began offering transits to commercial shipping last month and have already been swamped by requests. . . .

Alert to all ships transiting the Gulf of Aden
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=307:alert-to-all-ships-transiting-the-gulf-of-aden-&catid=60:news
31 October 2008 

The European Union (EU) has initiated a ‘Close Support Protection’ system for vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden. The French navy will be the first to offer this service.

The French Navy is able to provide protection teams onboard two merchant vessels at a time. Only two vessels will have the protection teams onboard upon request. The rest of the ships intending to follow this ‘group of protected vessels‘ can do so without the protection teams onboard. The presence of the warships will deter pirates from attacking any vessels in the group. Vessels can also call the nearby warships for assistance when attacked by pirates.

In the next three months, following slots are proposed:

Point A (SW of the Gulf of Aden): 12°30N-045°00E
Point b (North of Socotra Island): 14°40N-053°00E

From A to B:

- 28 to 29 October
- 21 to 22 November
- 25 to 26 November
- 4 to 5 December
- 22 to 23 December

From B to A:

- 30 to 31 October
- 23 to 24 November
- 27 to 28 November
- 6 to 7 December
- 24 to 25 December

All rendezvous are on first day of slot at 0800 LT (A: GMT + 3, B: GMT + 4). Average speed is 14 knots.

- Technical agreement between ship-owners and French navy has to be established prior to the protection team being embarked.
- Protection is free.

Civilian vessels willing to benefit from such escorts have to make contact 10 days before slot.

Enquiries regarding exact time and date of departure, please contact:
French Force commander staff for Indian Ocean Tel: (redacted) / E-mail: (redacted) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please note: last minute changes may arise.

Ships have the option to follow the ‘group of protected vessels’ by French navy or transit via the established maritime security patrol area in the Gulf of Aden.

Masters using the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) and those following the ‘group of protected vessels’ are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24 hour lookout using all available means to get early warnings of an approaching threat. Some vessels have been attacked/hijacked in the corridor.

Masters are also reminded that all suspicious/attempted/actual attacks reported to coalition warship should also be reported to the 24-hour IMB Piracy Reporting Centre helpline:

Tel: +60 3 2031 0014
Fax: +60 3 2078 5769
Telex: MA 34199 IMBPCI

 

[Colin Parkinson]

As the insurance rates go up, expect to see more "private security teams" onboard. A company could station two vessels at either end of the passage, where the ships could pick up and drop off the teams. You could use ex-Gurhka's or similar for the job, I expect that there would be more than enough applicants for the job.

 

[CougarKing]

BRAVO ZULU to the Indian Navy!!!!

Indian navy foils pirates in Gulf of Aden
11/11/2008 | 05:08 PM

NEW DELHI - The Indian navy says its commandos operating from a warship have foiled an attempt by pirates to hijack a ship in the Gulf of Aden.

The navy says an armed helicopter with marine commandos on Tuesday prevented the pirates from boarding and hijacking an Indian merchant vessel that was eastward bound after transiting the Suez Canal.

The Indian navy last month sent its warships to the Gulf of Aden on an anti-piracy patrol to protect Indian flagships during passage between Oman and Yemen. - AP

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/132776/Indian-...in-Gulf-of-Aden

Indian Navy foils Somali pirates' bid to hijack ship

Zeenews Bureau

Mogadishu, Nov 11: In a daring operation, the Indian Navy on Tuesday repulsed a hijack attempt on an Indian merchant ship by pirates in the Gulf of Aden region off the Somali coast. The incident took place at around 10.30 am IST. The successful operation marks a first for the Indian Navy as it was specifically deployed in the regionin the wake of continued hijack attempts on Indian ships and crew – notably the hijack of MV Stolt Valor.

The ship Jag Arnav belonging to the Great Eastern Shipping Co was on its way to India and was cruising around 60 miles off Aden when pirates tried to board the ship in an attempt to hijack it. The Indian Navy got into action in response to the alarm raised by the ship’s crew.

Armed helicopters with marine commandos on-board were dispatched from warship INS Gomti that was on patrol duty in the region. After a brief exchange of fire the pirates fled.

INS Gomti

As of now Jag Arnav is being escorted to safe waters by another Indian warship, INS Sabar.

The rescue would also add to the hopes of the family members of the crew of MV Stolt Valor that was hijacked by the Somali pirates last month.

http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2008-11-11/482565news.html

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Seems the Indian navy ROE's are a bit more robust.

 

[geo]

Seems the Indian navy ROE's are a bit more robust.

Probably has something to do with the neighbours it keeps

 

[The Bread Guy]

Well done RN - shared with the usual disclaimer...

Navy shoots dead pirate suspects
Caroline Wyatt, BBC News, 12 Nov 08
Article link

The crew of the dhow surrendered after being circled by navy launches

  The Royal Navy has repelled a pirate attack on a Danish cargo ship off the coast of Yemen, shooting dead two men believed to be Somali pirates.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the incident took place on Tuesday, when HMS Cumberland crew members tried to board a traditional wooden dhow.

The Yemeni-flagged vessel was identified as having been involved in an earlier attack on the Danish ship

An MoD spokesman said the pirates were shot in self-defence.

After initial attempts to stop the dhow failed, the Royal Navy launched sea boats to encircle the vessel.

The British seamen were fired on and shot back before the dhow was boarded and its crew surrendered.

Third death

An MoD Spokesman said: "Two foreign nationals, believed to be Somali pirates, were shot and killed in self-defence.

"A Yemeni national was also found injured and later died, despite receiving emergency treatment from the ship's doctor.

"It is unclear whether his injuries were as a result of the fire-fight or a previous incident involving the pirates."

A post-shooting investigation is being carried out, the spokesman added.

Details of the incident emerged when Russian navy spokesman Igor Dygalo revealed the frigate Neustrashimy (Fearless), from its Baltic Sea Fleet, had also tried to rescue the Danish vessel MV Powerful.

He said the two warships repelled the attempted raid after the pirates fired weapons at the Danish ship and twice tried to board it.

HMS Cumberland, a Plymouth-based Type 22 frigate, is currently deployed on a piracy-fighting mission in the Gulf of Aden as part of a Nato taskforce.

There has been a rise in attacks on merchant shipping and aid shipments in the area.

The boarding took place 60 nautical miles south of the Yemeni coast, inside the Maritime Security Patrol Area.

The MoD said the boarding operation was conducted "in accordance with UK Rules of Engagement".

Pirates have been causing havoc in one of the world's busiest shipping areas, making the waters off the Horn of Africa some of the world's most dangerous.

The pirates prey on one of the world's key shipping routes, which leads to the Suez Canal, the transit point for up to a third of the world's oil.

Rocket grenades

Pirates have hijacked more than 30 ships so far this year, twice as many as last year, with the ransoms paid to them by governments or ship-owners far higher than in previous years.

The pirates are equipped with speedboats and armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

They have taken millions of dollars in ransoms and their actions have led to a hike in insurance costs for shipping and threatened humanitarian supplies.

A Turkish-flagged tanker with a 14-man crew became the latest victim of the pirates when it was hijacked off Yemen on Wednesday, according to the Anatolia news agency.

Last month, a maritime watchdog said that Somali pirates were responsible for nearly a third of all reported attacks on ships.

 

[OldSolduer]

Two, possibly three no good for anything pirates gone. Good. It's about time. No lengthy incarcerations or worrying about their "rights".
Well done Royal Navy!

 

[Colin Parkinson]

If the press and public respond with a positive resposne to this incident and the Indian one where they opened fire as well, expect to see more direct assaults.

 

[CougarKing]

In spite of all these recent naval efforts, some pirate scum still continue to slip through the "cracks" and still are able to hijack ships. Like in the recent hijacking below:

Chemical ship hijacked off Yemen

Pirates have seized a Turkish chemical tanker off the coast of Yemen, Turkish maritime officials say.

The tanker, the Karagol, was hijacked 26km (16 miles) off the coast of Yemen on its way to India.

It was carrying 4,500 tonnes of unspecified chemicals and was manned by a 14-member Turkish crew.

There have been dozens of attacks and hijackings in the Gulf of Aden this year, making it one of the most dangerous sea routes in the world.

On Monday, Somali pirates hijacked a chemical tanker with 21 Filipino crew members on board.

On 29 October, a ship carrying iron ore was hijacked and a ransom demanded for its return.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7725372.stm

 

[CougarKing]

More information on the action involving HMS CUMBERLAND, as well as a similar action by the Russian destroyer NEUSTRASHIMY.

Russian, UK Warships Stop Somali Pirate Hijack

MOSCOW (AFP)--Russian and U.K. warships have jointly fought off two attempts by Somali pirates wielding assault rifles to hijack a Danish ship in the Gulf of Aden, the Russian Navy said Wednesday.

"The activities of the pirates were thwarted through the joint efforts of the Russian warship and the British warship," the frigate Cumberland, with both ships using helicopters in the operation, the navy said in a statement.

"The pirates tried to shoot at the ship using assault rifles and carried out two hijacking attempts" on the Danish ship, the Powerful, the statement said.

The Russian frigate, the Neustrashimy, is currently accompanying "several ships" through the perilous pirate-infested seas off the coast of Somalia, it said.

Russia dispatched the Neustrashimy, a ship armed with missiles and carrying a crew of around 200, to the region in September after pirates seized a Ukrainian freighter with tanks and Russian sailors on board.

Dozens of ships, mainly merchant vessels, have been seized by gangs off Somalia's 3,700 kilometer coastline in recent years, despite the presence of Western navies deployed in the region to fight terrorism. The pirates use speedboats and are armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. They sometimes hold ships for weeks until large ransoms are paid.

"http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20081112%5CACQDJON200811121039DOWJONESDJONLINE000556.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Russian,%20UK%20Warships%20Stop%20Somali%20Pirate%20Hijack%20-%20Russia"

 

[Colin Parkinson]

It's a great way for Russia to earn some international favours and give their navy a useful task and good training.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

It's a great way for Russia to earn some international favours and give their navy a useful task and good training.

Yup, and if, by chance, a little more force than required is used who's gonna say anything?.......Noooooooobody!!

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

It's a great way for Russia to earn some international favours and give their navy a useful task and good training.

Useful task agreed but I would hardly call this joint op training.