Danish family taken hostage by pirates
Discussion
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/01/3151...
Somali pirates kidnap Danish family
Posted 3 hours 29 minutes ago
Indian Ocean pirates have captured a yacht with seven Danes, including three children, aboard, and are sailing towards Somalia, the Danish foreign ministry says.
The vessel, captured last Thursday, was carrying a Danish family of five and two employees.
The family left on a two-year round-the-world tour that was to have ended in mid-2011, according to a neighbour who spoke to Danish media.
They had made stops in South America, the Caribbean, Fiji and Thailand, and had set sail two weeks earlier from the Maldives headed towards Africa.
The children, two boys and a girl, are aged 12 to 16.
"It's almost unbearable to know that children are involved, and I vigorously condemn the pirates," said Danish foreign minister Lene Espersen.
Ms Espersen told Danish TV the government "does not negotiate with pirates", and declined to comment further on the case because it would not serve the interests of the hostages to have the situation publicised.
"The hostage-takers also hear what is said on television in the countries the hostages come from and the episode could be dragged out if they start to discuss the details," she added.
Ms Espersen said Danish authorities "are following this matter very closely" and will do anything in their power to help the family aboard and their relatives.
A Danish warship that is part of NATO's Ocean Shield anti-piracy operation is reportedly in the region and is headed towards the scene. The Danish navy declined to comment on the reports.
On February 22, Somali pirates killed four Americans including a retired couple aboard their hijacked yacht.
Surely something needs to be done about the piracy now? What sort of message does it send to the world when piracy goes unpunished and unquestioned by governments?
Somali pirates kidnap Danish family
Posted 3 hours 29 minutes ago
Indian Ocean pirates have captured a yacht with seven Danes, including three children, aboard, and are sailing towards Somalia, the Danish foreign ministry says.
The vessel, captured last Thursday, was carrying a Danish family of five and two employees.
The family left on a two-year round-the-world tour that was to have ended in mid-2011, according to a neighbour who spoke to Danish media.
They had made stops in South America, the Caribbean, Fiji and Thailand, and had set sail two weeks earlier from the Maldives headed towards Africa.
The children, two boys and a girl, are aged 12 to 16.
"It's almost unbearable to know that children are involved, and I vigorously condemn the pirates," said Danish foreign minister Lene Espersen.
Ms Espersen told Danish TV the government "does not negotiate with pirates", and declined to comment further on the case because it would not serve the interests of the hostages to have the situation publicised.
"The hostage-takers also hear what is said on television in the countries the hostages come from and the episode could be dragged out if they start to discuss the details," she added.
Ms Espersen said Danish authorities "are following this matter very closely" and will do anything in their power to help the family aboard and their relatives.
A Danish warship that is part of NATO's Ocean Shield anti-piracy operation is reportedly in the region and is headed towards the scene. The Danish navy declined to comment on the reports.
On February 22, Somali pirates killed four Americans including a retired couple aboard their hijacked yacht.
Surely something needs to be done about the piracy now? What sort of message does it send to the world when piracy goes unpunished and unquestioned by governments?
What I don't understand is why people (civilians, tourists whatever) keep sailing in that general area?
Combatting it is similar to Afghanistan I suppose. The pirates can melt back into fishermen anytime the 5-0 get near them, so why not change tactic slightly - civilians stop sailing into damn pirate infested waters, and merchant ships carry a few private security contractors tooled up.
The pirates are probably malnourished and carrying rusty AK's, and surely the old advantage of high ground applies, so you would only need a few security personnel onboard each ship (a tiny cost compared to the value of the cargo).
That will soon stop them attacking merchant ships. Then to actually get rid of them, put a few SBS dressed in Hawaiin shirts on small yachts and sail them around that area, eventually the pirates wil be killed or give up and go grow bannanas.
Combatting it is similar to Afghanistan I suppose. The pirates can melt back into fishermen anytime the 5-0 get near them, so why not change tactic slightly - civilians stop sailing into damn pirate infested waters, and merchant ships carry a few private security contractors tooled up.
The pirates are probably malnourished and carrying rusty AK's, and surely the old advantage of high ground applies, so you would only need a few security personnel onboard each ship (a tiny cost compared to the value of the cargo).
That will soon stop them attacking merchant ships. Then to actually get rid of them, put a few SBS dressed in Hawaiin shirts on small yachts and sail them around that area, eventually the pirates wil be killed or give up and go grow bannanas.
pokethepope said:
What I don't understand is why people (civilians, tourists whatever) keep sailing in that general area?
Because it is the only viable route between Europe and further east. The only other possibility is to go via the Cape of Good Hope, which is many thousands of miles longer and is actually quite hazardous in itself. Travelling East to West that way is also against the prevailing winds, which makes life a lot harder. Remember you have to then deal with the whole the rest of Africa, which is not without its own safety issues as piracy also occurs on the West coast.99% of piracy will be around the Horn of Africa, and relatively close inshore.
This is a lot further north than the cruising route that a yacht going from the maldives will probably be on.
Many of these "Pirates" are just fishermen that take an opertunity when they see it, and only then become "pirates"
For example, the Lynn Rival was captured 7+ days sailing distance from the African coast!
ETA - here's hoping for a positive and swift outcome for these people, and sympathies to their families at home also.
This is a lot further north than the cruising route that a yacht going from the maldives will probably be on.
Many of these "Pirates" are just fishermen that take an opertunity when they see it, and only then become "pirates"
For example, the Lynn Rival was captured 7+ days sailing distance from the African coast!
ETA - here's hoping for a positive and swift outcome for these people, and sympathies to their families at home also.
Edited by XJSJohn on Tuesday 1st March 02:59
pokethepope said:
What I don't understand is why people (civilians, tourists whatever) keep sailing in that general area?
Do you keep driving to work even though people die every day on roads? It's a big ocean with a lot of boats. By your argument every should leave London because they might get stabbed.Tsippy said:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/01/3151...
The family left on a two-year round-the-world tour that was to have ended in mid-2011, according to a neighbour who spoke to Danish media.
They had made stops in South America, the Caribbean, Fiji and Thailand, and had set sail two weeks earlier from the Maldives headed towards Africa.
The children, two boys and a girl, are aged 12 to 16.
I hope they are rescued and return home safe and sound but it's a bit irresponsible taking two young kids out of school just so you can tour the world for 2 years - or am I just being a boring spoilsport?The family left on a two-year round-the-world tour that was to have ended in mid-2011, according to a neighbour who spoke to Danish media.
They had made stops in South America, the Caribbean, Fiji and Thailand, and had set sail two weeks earlier from the Maldives headed towards Africa.
The children, two boys and a girl, are aged 12 to 16.
Edited by Victor McDade on Tuesday 1st March 11:47
Victor McDade said:
I hope they are rescued and return home safe and sound but it's a bit irresponsible taking two young kinds out of school just so you can tour the world for 2 years - or am I just being a boring spoilsport?
With home-schooling and satellite internet I don't think it's an issue, and there's more to learning than school.Victor McDade said:
I hope they are rescued and return home safe and sound but it's a bit irresponsible taking two young kinds out of school just so you can tour the world for 2 years - or am I just being a boring spoilsport?
Sounds a great trip. Wish I had been taken out for 2 years. Could not have done more harm then the school did.If these are opportunist pirate going 'tooled' up is not a bad option is it not? what are they going to have ? some Aks would they take on another boat even if it did have 1 AK defending it?
XJSJohn said:
99% of piracy will be around the Horn of Africa, and relatively close inshore.
This is a lot further north than the cruising route that a yacht going from the maldives will probably be on.
Many of these "Pirates" are just fishermen that take an opertunity when they see it, and only then become "pirates"
For example, the Lynn Rival was captured 7+ days sailing distance from the African coast!
ETA - here's hoping for a positive and swift outcome for these people, and sympathies to their families at home also.
That is interesting, if this is the case as 'opportunists' only exist when in an environment of low to zero accountability.This is a lot further north than the cruising route that a yacht going from the maldives will probably be on.
Many of these "Pirates" are just fishermen that take an opertunity when they see it, and only then become "pirates"
For example, the Lynn Rival was captured 7+ days sailing distance from the African coast!
ETA - here's hoping for a positive and swift outcome for these people, and sympathies to their families at home also.
Edited by XJSJohn on Tuesday 1st March 02:59
Introducing accountability after the act would bring this element to a halt.
superlightr said:
If these are opportunist pirate going 'tooled' up is not a bad option is it not? what are they going to have ? some Aks would they take on another boat even if it did have 1 AK defending it?
Possibly worth it on a decent sized ship, but they're likely to have more practice than you and only need to hole your hull a few times to make the situation vastly worse for you.superlightr said:
Victor McDade said:
I hope they are rescued and return home safe and sound but it's a bit irresponsible taking two young kinds out of school just so you can tour the world for 2 years - or am I just being a boring spoilsport?
Sounds a great trip. Wish I had been taken out for 2 years. Could not have done more harm then the school did.
Bill said:
Possibly worth it on a decent sized ship, but they're likely to have more practice than you and only need to hole your hull a few times to make the situation vastly worse for you.
This. Plus it's quite hard to hit anything whilst on a small boat pitching up and down, so you'd be far more likely to just annoy them.madala said:
....we have to start killing these scum b'stard Somali pirates....sooner than later....they are filth.
I assume if you were in international waters, you would get away with it too.It does seem surprising that "personal" craft are targeted. Yes there will be a ransom demanded in any situation but surely for the pirates, the commercial traffic carries a bigger reward. I understand that some major shipping operators will readily pay a ransom of 20 - 30 million for the recovery of a tanker of crude oil as the risk (and lesser frequency) of hijacking is a better deal financially than re routing the ships around the cape.
Victor McDade said:
I hope they are rescued and return home safe and sound but it's a bit irresponsible taking two young kids out of school just so you can tour the world for 2 years - or am I just being a boring spoilsport?
I don't give a sEdited by Victor McDade on Tuesday 1st March 11:47
t either way - it's just good to have another pirate thread.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff