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Cruise liner fends off pirate attack
- Thread starter ForceUser
- Start date
ForceUser said:Pirates still exist?
Not only do they still exist but pirate attacks have been an increasing problem over the past several years. The main hotspots for pirate attacks are areas off the coast of very lawless and conflict-torn regions (i.e. no effective central governance to crack down on piratical acts + internal conflict fostering a need for money to buy arms). Obviously, there is a need for international shipping lanes (or some valuable shipping) to be relatively nearby too. The usual deal is for them to steal loose valuables, the safe and maybe take a hostage or two. Lately, a few have had the stones to hold entire cargo ships for ransom.
The stardard tactic of modern pirates is to use a handful of small, fast boats and swarm a slow large boat, ideally boarding it by surprise. They are often unafraid to kill if it is easier or makes a point to others on board. These guys are not romantic "yarr" type pirates. They are violent paramilitary gangs with AKs and machetes.
I believe that the waters near Somalia and Aceh (in Indonesia) are the worst right now but some other parts of Africa still have pirates. I remember something about a ship off a rogue area of Nigeria being taken not so long ago. These attacks turn up with alarming regularity on more internationally focused media such as the BBC. North American media usually ignore them.
What is exceptional in the report you linked to is the fact that they attacked a luxury liner rather than their usual prey (cargo ships - they have small crews and lots of stuff). The Somalian pirates are getting more aggressive if they are willing to attack such heavily populated vessels. Still, if they succeeded, I imagine there would be an impressive haul as a result (not to mention lots of big ransoms).
There are tons of pirates in Indonesia, raiding freighters and oil tankers in the Straits of Malacca, between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. To a less extent, there's also piracy in other parts of Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa (as in this story), and pretty much anywhere that it's easy to get fast engines for small boats, commercials ships are confined to a small area, AK-47's are easy to get and cheap, and the government is corrupt and/or incompetent. 
The typical raid is a small boat or two with a dozen locals with AK-47's. Since the crew of an oil tanker is maybe 10 guys at most, and there's not typically a lot of weapons on a tanker (though captains usually do have guns), it's fair easy for them to overpower the crew. They then steal the personal possessions of the crew, the payroll (still often in cash), and anything that's not nailed down. Often, they will also kill the crew and steal the whole ship and cargo, bringing it port under a false name.
The Simpsons had a episode about all this, in which Homer was partying on Mr Burn's yacht when Asian pirates attacked. They stole the yacht, tossed Homer overboard, and headed for "Secret Pirate Island, AKA Hong Kong".
The typical raid is a small boat or two with a dozen locals with AK-47's. Since the crew of an oil tanker is maybe 10 guys at most, and there's not typically a lot of weapons on a tanker (though captains usually do have guns), it's fair easy for them to overpower the crew. They then steal the personal possessions of the crew, the payroll (still often in cash), and anything that's not nailed down. Often, they will also kill the crew and steal the whole ship and cargo, bringing it port under a false name.
The Simpsons had a episode about all this, in which Homer was partying on Mr Burn's yacht when Asian pirates attacked. They stole the yacht, tossed Homer overboard, and headed for "Secret Pirate Island, AKA Hong Kong".
WayneLigon
Adventurer
So, how long until cruise ships and tankers start carrying deck guns again?
frankthedm
First Post
Real guns are better. Sinking the pirate boat means fewer pirates.
Do Captains still have right to execute? I would hope so, but I don't pay attention to international law since i do not leave the US. Things like this are why.
Do Captains still have right to execute? I would hope so, but I don't pay attention to international law since i do not leave the US. Things like this are why.
wingsandsword
Legend
Some articles on modern piracy before this incident:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/01/27/pirates/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4283396.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3092373.stm
Piracy still goes on alright, especially off the coasts of Somalia, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Bangladesh and India to a lesser degree as well. As it was said, where there is easy access to military-grade weapons, close proximity to shipping routes, and a corrupt/ineffective local government piracy can pop up.
It does give one a lot of ideas for a modern-day game certainly. Shootouts, chases, rich benefactors (the shipping/cruise companies), mook pirates. You could make an entire "modern pirate hunters" campaign.
Technically the US Constitution still gives the government the right to grant Letter of Marque and Reprisal, a license to hunt pirates on the open sea (and act as an independent warship on behalf of the government that issued it). An international treaty from 1856 banned those letters in many countries, but the US never signed that treaty, only informally agreeing to honor it for the duration of the US Civil War. No Letters of Marque have been issued to private citizens in about 150 years or so though, but it would make for an interesting concept for a modern game to be sure as a response to rising piracy.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/01/27/pirates/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4283396.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3092373.stm
Piracy still goes on alright, especially off the coasts of Somalia, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Bangladesh and India to a lesser degree as well. As it was said, where there is easy access to military-grade weapons, close proximity to shipping routes, and a corrupt/ineffective local government piracy can pop up.
It does give one a lot of ideas for a modern-day game certainly. Shootouts, chases, rich benefactors (the shipping/cruise companies), mook pirates. You could make an entire "modern pirate hunters" campaign.
Technically the US Constitution still gives the government the right to grant Letter of Marque and Reprisal, a license to hunt pirates on the open sea (and act as an independent warship on behalf of the government that issued it). An international treaty from 1856 banned those letters in many countries, but the US never signed that treaty, only informally agreeing to honor it for the duration of the US Civil War. No Letters of Marque have been issued to private citizens in about 150 years or so though, but it would make for an interesting concept for a modern game to be sure as a response to rising piracy.
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