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October 30, 2007
Shiver Me Timbers Matey!
U.S. destroyer pursuing hijacked ship in Somali waters, military says
Washington
A U.S. destroyer has entered Somali territorial waters in pursuit of a Japanese-owned ship loaded with benzene that was hijacked by pirates over the weekend, military officials said Monday.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke entered Somali waters with the permission of the troubled transitional government in Mogadishu, U.S. officials said. In recent years, warships have stayed outside the 12-mile limit when chasing pirates.
The ongoing operation was confirmed to CNN by two military officials familiar with the details.
Gunmen aboard two skiffs hijacked the Panamanian-flagged Golden Mori off the Socotra archipelago, near the Horn of Africa, said Andrew Mwangura, a spokesman for Kenya's Seafarers' Assistance Programme.
The Golden Mori radioed for help Sunday night. The Burke's sister ship, the USS Porter, opened fire and sank the pirate skiffs tied to its stern before the Burke took over shadowing the hijacked vessel.
When the shots were fired, it was not known the ship was filled with highly flammable benzene. U.S. military officials indicate there is a great deal of concern about the cargo because it is so sensitive.
Benzene, which U.S. authorities have declared a known human carcinogen, is used as a solvent and to make plastics and synthetic fabrics.
U.S. and NATO warships have been patrolling off the Horn of Africa for several years in an effort to crack down on piracy off Somalia, where a U.N.-backed transitional government is struggling to restore order after 15 years of near-anarchy.
In June, the destroyer USS Carter Hall fired warning shots in an attempt to stop a hijacked Danish cargo ship off Somalia, but the American vessel had to turn away when the pirated ship entered Somali waters.
In May, a U.S. Navy advisory warned merchant ships to stay at least 200 miles off the Somali coast. But the U.S. Maritime Administration said pirates sometimes issue false distress calls to lure ships closer to shore.
The pirates are often armed with automatic rifles and shoulder-fired rockets, according to a recent warning from the agency.
"To date, vessels that increase speed and take evasive maneuvers avoid boarding, while those that slow down are boarded, taken to the Somali coastline and released after successful ransom payment, often after protracted negotiations of as much as 11 weeks," it advised.
The agency issued a new warning to sailors in the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and Yemen, after Sunday's hijacking was reported.
Wild Thing's comment........
Time for the Hippies to make new signs I guess.
I'm sure of one thing, our Navy will kick your a## if you fight them on the water, under the water or over the water.
Also I saw this.............
Pirate attacks increase worldwide
CNN
Pirate attacks worldwide jumped 14 percent in the first nine months of 2007, with the biggest increases off the poorly policed waters of Somalia and Nigeria
Posted by Wild Thing at October 30, 2007 12:55 AM
Comments
Common knowledge that pirating proliferates off the African coastline, especially Somalia and Nigeria. Commercial shipping should know to keep a distance. Same off the Indonesian coast.
I also wonder why the United States and NATO seem to be the only navies actively running patrols. Another instance of America protecting the ingrateful world at our expense and risk. Of course I guess it would be funny to read that "Mexican patrol boats successfully attack pirates off the Nigerian Coast". Really though, we should be billing the frigg'n World, and the UN, for our military and humanitarian efforts around the globe.
Posted by: TomR at October 30, 2007 09:43 AM
This was going on nearly 40 years ago, especially off Indonesian waters and Yemen. This will continue as long as the UN is in charge of providing world protection, they have been hijacked by the very pirates that are doing the plundering, this was demonstrated a few years back with a certain shipment of "yellowcake" destined for Iraq or Iran while Kofi Anus was on Saddam's payroll. The Law of the Sea Treaty will prohibit any sovereignty from protecting themselves or their interests particularly our Navy because it give away all sovereignty to the UN.
Posted by: Jack at October 30, 2007 04:40 PM
Don't mess with the Navy! GO NAVY!
Right on with your comments TomR!
Posted by: patrickdaniel at October 30, 2007 09:28 PM
Tom I agree, if it were not for the USA military the entire world would be completly different. Can you imgaine the bill presented to the world for all our efforts, defense, help. Amazing
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 30, 2007 11:19 PM
Jack your right, I sure hope they do the right thing this Law of the Sea Treaty. I am very concerned about it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 30, 2007 11:25 PM
Patrick,( big smile) love our Navy.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 30, 2007 11:27 PM
