Not bad work for a liberal...

Actually... if we could just reclassify the pirates as corporate CEO's; I think he could fire them!

US Crew Retakes Maersk Alabama From Pirates.
 

I posted this on the Newsvine thread:

Here's the Yahoo link.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090409/ap_on_re_af/piracy

Huzzah and Hully Gee!

Yes, SIR!

Permission to think, sir?

Do not try to read this sientnece when you have just woken up with a slight hangover, Took me a while to realize that it was riggers not ni...

My brain needs a kickstart.

I've been at work for an hour already and this hangover isn't going away.

As long as you start thinking about your own country for a change. God knows Ireland could use the attention. :DL

Besides if you know your American history you'd know that when it comes to starting wars the Democrats have the Republicans beat by a wide margin.

Somehow the crew regained control of the ships yet the 'pirates' continue to hold the capitan hostage.

The US has sent a Destroyer to the area.

What a destroyer is going to do other than intimidate, its not like they are going to sink the merchant.

After failing to grasp the positives around the convoying system at the outset of both world wars.....surely now is the time to give it some serious thought.

We are not talking about U-boats or FAC hare....but medium size motor/speed boats at best.

Surely two frigate sized ships, each with a helicopter would suffice as an escort.

This all sounds well and good, however the costs would find themselves displaced into the goods being delivered at some point.

Dont know if its true or not but this ships cargo was listed as emergency food relief for Zambia.

Some more updates:

The captain is still being held hostage on a smaller boat which is now evidently out of gas.

The crew had a member of the 'pirates' held but gave him up in an attempt to free the captain which evidently failed.

Allegedly the captain gave himself up in order to 'free' the crew.

If the convoy system worked, then shipping insurance prices would go back to normal, which would offset the costs of the protection.

Not really. Modern trade is dependent on "just-in-time" delivery of goods. Convoys are not cost-effective in such a system. They are rigid and slow and require a vast amount of effort to organize.

Last time everyone was talking about this I thought arming merchants was a good idea. Somebody talked me down from it, because of diplomatic considerations and the like.

I think the best solution would be on-demand private marine security firms. They could set up shop at ports that have shipping companies with routes through dangerous waters, and disembark at the next point the firms consider suitable where they wait for a contracting ship to make a return voyage.

*puts on helmet*

I can't believe nobody has caught who the Kapitan is...


KP are you okay? Just tap 1 for yes and 2 for no. Do you need us to rescue you? Just tap one for yes.

I'll put my Han Solo suit on, GR, you get the wookie suit, and Jim, it's okay to put the princess suit back on.:haha: We'll be there in 20 minutes:arrgh!:

I agree. Of course, it might be more cost effective just to go ahead and arm the merchants after all, or at least do so when traveling certain parts of the world.