Maersk Alabama. Danish owned but U.S. operated containership being hijacked by Somali pirates

[miraflores]

And again a master ignored the strongly recommended safety zone of 600 nm from the coast of somalia:

Marshall Island-flagged Container vessel DAL MADAGASCAR attacked in position 330 nm South-East of Hobyo on 11 April. Two skiffs launched by a smaller vessel at a distance of 7 nm each with four pirates on board attacked the vessel with small arms and RPG. Vessel has been chased by skiff with speed up to 23.5 knots. After thirty minutes the pirates abandoned the attack.[/b]

http://www.shipping.nato.int/CounterPir/copy_of_copy_of_SOMALIAPIR

Rgds.
Juergen

[Malim Sahib]

You might find that the Master in question may not have been there through choice - his employers will have a large say in just how far offshore he should remain.
At the moment, general guidance is to remain circa 400 nautical miles offshore, not 600.
It sounds simple in practice to simply say move further offshore, but it's quite a detour. There was a report in early March of one ship which was attacked almost 900 miles off the coast, so just how far offshore do you go?

[Brian Cawkwell]

I REALY think we need more navy vessels in the area , but the rules of engagement should be as the USA did to rescue the captain of the Maersk vessel, who agrees ?

Shoot the pirates first then ask questions later!!!!!!!!!!!

[Morten]

It isn't as easy as shoot first, ask later! Because as the incident with the Indian Navy vessel which attacked a Thai fishing vessel showed, mistakes are made!

I'd like to see all these pirates burn in hell as much as the next guy, but we can't just start shooting at everything that looks slightly suspicious! That would be a bit like the police fining everyone they think have an intention of speeding.
If there have been a confirmation of the ship having weapons onboard or they have directly attacked another ship, by all means: SHOOT! But we have to make certain.

I think the best solution would be to deploy two carriers, one in the gulf of Aden and one east of Mogadishu. That would allow them to scramble jetfighters which can be just about anywhere along the pirate infested areas within an hour! And one short burst from a Vulcan 20 mm cannon would pretty much foil any attack. And I think most ships should be able to keep the pirates off for an hour from spotting them if they keep a proper look out!
Hopefully, with the latest developments and the US' renewed interest in the pirate attacks, that thought isn't that farfetched!

[jnrawdon]

It's interesting to see that the pirates were taken out by snipers on the US warship.

[miraflores]

@James_c
ICC recommends still a distance of 600 nm.

http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=58

See under Somalia.

Rgds.
Juergen

[Malim Sahib]

Well that's changed recently as up until early March they were still advocating 400 miles on their weekly broadcasts, as I understand it UK advice is still 400 miles, with 200 miles offshore being the recommendation for those ships with a 'Protection Force'.

[mooringman]

If a vessel is bound for Mombasa or another East African port,how she can sail 600 nm off the coast?
....and there are attacks in the Gulf of Aden too between all the warships!
...i just heard ,the pirates seized at least two vessels again.

[Morten]

It's very easy for people to sit at home and say that the ships should just follow the recommendations and then they'll be fine... 400 nm, 600 nm - doesn't really make the big difference! And you have to remember that we are not just sailing around out there for the hell of it! We have schedules, tight schedules and though it might not sound like a whole lot of reason to go through pirate infested waters, but it is! Time is money and to the owners everything is money. So they apply a whole lot of pressure, especially the smaller operators!

So you just sit there with your raised finger! But don't point it at the people just doing their job! Sure they should keep 600 miles! But keeping a 600 mile safety distance will mean a detour of at least one day for a smaller vessel... That is alot of money! And as "mooringman" pointed out, if you are heading to Mombassa, it is pretty darn hard to keep 600 miles off Somalian coasts...