Seems the merchants are still armed...

[AVGWarhawk]

and dangerous. Be careful on your approach:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,341211,00.html

[bookworm_020]

Depend on where they are and who is crewing them.

The Straits of Malacca are well know for being home for piracy, and I wouldn't be surprisied if some of them are armed as well.

[Jimbuna]

This really concerns me....my 19 year old son sailed north through Suez less than a week ago

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

This really concerns me....my 19 year old son sailed north through Suez less than a week ago

I wouldn't worry. From what I hear, the Suez canal is a giant sail-in shopping mall; that's probably what these boats were (Either selling crap or buying crap. Lot of these guys actually come onboard with the pilot and line-handling crews). Or just bystander.

What weirds me out is the discrepancy on the casualty count.

Stuff like this is why merchant vessels don't usually carry weapons. They want the boat, let 'em have it... And seriously, pulling out a Cole in the Suez canal would inconvenience the Egyptians more than the company getting attacked. Canal's not that deep. The refloating effort probably wouldn't even affect world economy that much.

[Gezoes]

Arming your ship when near the eastern African coast is not a bad idea.

Even liners get attacked by pirates in that area.

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by Gezoes

Arming your ship when near the eastern African coast is not a bad idea.

Even liners get attacked by pirates in that area.

It's generally considered a really bad idea, actually. Warning shots at the pirates will only incite them to shoot back; these guys have rocket launchers, (We alway assume they have rocket launchers), they outnumber you, and they have a bad temper. Plus, chances are they'd be better shots anyway.

Usually, the Merchant Marine's main weapons against boarding are spotlights and firehoses; and when that fails, everybody locks themselves up in the accomodations and wait for the problem to go away - If the pirates are after the cargo, that's great, if they want the cash, well... You hope they're in a good mood.

Generally, it's all about prevention: Avoiding pirate-prone areas, turning off the AIS and the navlights (illegal, but hey), sailing at full speed, and sometime, but rarely, hiring escort boats. Driving liners in those areas is, well... Not smart. (And I wouldn't describe the Seabourn boats as liners, really, they're tiny.)

Weapons onboard are a huge liabillity to the shipowner, and an extreme custom hassle. (Customs are the reason most cruise ships have stopped skeet shooting; that and the environmental policies)

I've never heard of any commercial vessel carrying weapons (Except those that carry extremely active nuclear waste), althought the US custom forms still have a line on the ship's store declaration for revolvers.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Etienne

I wouldn't worry. From what I hear, the Suez canal is a giant sail-in shopping mall; that's probably what these boats were (Either selling crap or buying crap. Lot of these guys actually come onboard with the pilot and line-handling crews). Or just bystander.

What weirds me out is the discrepancy on the casualty count.

Stuff like this is why merchant vessels don't usually carry weapons. They want the boat, let 'em have it... And seriously, pulling out a Cole in the Suez canal would inconvenience the Egyptians more than the company getting attacked. Canal's not that deep. The refloating effort probably wouldn't even affect world economy that much.

Well, he made it through okay. he rang home last night to say he was currently sailing up the English Channel headed for Hamburg and he'd be flying to Heathrow tomorrow
Should keep the wife happy

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Well, he made it through okay. he rang home last night to say he was currently sailing up the English Channel headed for Hamburg and he'd be flying to Heathrow tomorrow
Should keep the wife happy

Yeah, cos you don't care, ya big softie!