Pirates

Looks like Cameron has shown a bit of courage and is going to allow armed guards to ride shotgun on the ships carrying the British flag.
High time the jellies that call themselves politicians showed a bit of moral backbone imho.
A few thugs with RPGs have been intimidating shipping in the Red Sea area for years !!
I bet the " do-gooders" jump up and down with fury !! hahahahaha human rights they bleat like a load of sheep.

:clap:

If we have to carry live ammunition on tankers, so be it, but any escalation of that kind will not be appreciated by ship's crews. As an ex-tankerman I can say that this a very dangerous idea for ships whose crews are well trained in safety ideas and where even wheelspanners are made of bronze and bonding cables are connected between ship and shore to avert static when the hoses are connected and the oil is pumping.

"Anonymous oil tanker, China, 11 September 2002

We do not know her name, the accident was not detailed in the media. The vessel hit rocks on the south coast of China in the province of Guandong while seeking shelter from a tropical storm lashing the area. The captain and 15 crew members abandoned the ship and fired a signal rocket to attract help. Instead, it ignited the leaking oil, setting the tanker aflame and triggered an explosion. Eight crew members were injured and two reported missing"

I suppose they think it's worth the risk. Better than being kidnapped and kept in a mud hut in Somalia for the next year.

It's about time they were declared outlaws - i.e. outside any laws like human rights !

Should be dumped in the ocean 300 miles from shore - if they make it back it might mean someone up there has a soft spot for the rogues.

The soppy Christian attitude of infinite foregiveness is so often wasted on professional criminals. Perhaps the Arch Bish would rush to their aid ?

pboyles said:

I suppose they think it's worth the risk. Better than being kidnapped and kept in a mud hut in Somalia for the next year.

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You may think that but who is talking for the crewmembers? If they are signed on with the provision that arms are going to be carried, in case of piracy, then the choice is theirs but I have an idea that a clause for wage increases for when ships are in certain waters will have to be included.

I was in the Corean area in the early fifties. 150% wage increase for crew members of British ships. There were few ships about there, at that time, but these tanker routes are extremely busy. The cost of petrol at the filling stations will go up more, lads. I suggest that these pirates are cleaned out at the source. If we can locate Bin Laden, I'm damned sure that Intelligence can find out where the pirates are.

Pat494 said:

It's about time they were declared outlaws - i.e. outside any laws like human rights !

Should be dumped in the ocean 300 miles from shore - if they make it back it might mean someone up there has a soft spot for the rogues.

The soppy Christian attitude of infinite foregiveness is so often wasted on professional criminals. Perhaps the Arch Bish would rush to their aid ?

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You and I both know that that is not going to happen. Sailors want it sorted out as quickly as anyone, but I don't think that arming ships is a good idea. Shipping costs will go up and the increase will passed on to the consumer.

Another thing, OP. How many ships are there under the British flag, these days? Very few tankers, to be sure. My company, Texaco, is gone, and I'm sure that the really big fleets, Shell and BP are under the Bermudan, or some other flag-

If they had proper naval protection they wouldn't need to be armed. They can organise Nato in Libya but not on the high seas ........ why do we pay our taxes?

Liberalism is good for the good guys but breeds professional criminals if extended to the bad guys. When the latter take over they really let loose. No amount of mealy mouthed platitudes from the " do-gooders" curb their violence and greed.

The situation never seems to improve with modern half - hearteded words and deeds.

Surely it is the duty of every Govt to provide protection to their people within the country and without ? So they can enjoy their lives.

Eric Geddes said:

If they had proper naval protection they wouldn't need to be armed. They can organise Nato in Libya but not on the high seas ........ why do we pay our taxes?

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British companies, like Shell and BP, have had their ships under foreign flags for years, to avoid paying taxes. I suspect that there is the rub. Cameron is cutting back on defence and he has too many warships in the Indian Ocean defending other flags against pirates. The few British flag operators that there are would be more economical armed than having escorts.

It all comes down to budgets. The country has not twigged it, yet. So what does Cameron do? He drums up the "I'm British" syndrome to all the patriots who are gullible enough to listen, arms the one or two British ships that go there, brings home the fleet and scraps it.

Splitlink said:

British companies, like Shell and BP, have had their ships under foreign flags for years, to avoid paying taxes. I suspect that there is the rub. Cameron is cutting back on defence and he has too many warships in the Indian Ocean defending other flags against pirates. The few British flag operators that there are would be more economical armed than having escorts.

It all comes down to budgets. The country has not twigged it, yet. So what does Cameron do? He drums up the "I'm British" syndrome to all the patriots who are gullible enough to listen, arms the one or two British ships that go there, brings home the fleet and scraps it.

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I'm sure there is money riding on it somewhere as this is not good from an risk/insurance perspective.

Just like cars accidents - insurance companies are not interested in punishing the guilty driver party but more settling disputes financially between them selves and running a profitable business by passing costs on to higher premiums.

Ship exploding with all the cost of containers on board far outweighs any demands made by pirates. Better to absorb costs than raise risks or payments for loss.

Atilla said:

I'm sure there is money riding on it somewhere as this is not good from an risk/insurance perspective.



Ship exploding with all the cost of containers on board far outweighs any demands made by pirates. Better to absorb costs than raise risks or payments for loss.

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Tut tut - isn't that raising the white flag a bit too easily ?



Fill the b*astards full o' lead is more like it

pboyles said:

I suppose they think it's worth the risk. Better than being kidnapped and kept in a mud hut in Somalia for the next year.

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Dunno - I once stayed in a sh1tty room in Samui for 2 weeks, got no food and had an enema every evening.

Somalia sounds like a breeze.