Post by: Phyphor on October 30, 2007, 01:54:37 PM
Quote
U.S. destroyer pursuing hijacked ship in Somali waters, military says
From Barbara Starr
CNN
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- 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.
art.uss.porter.navy.jpg
The destroyer USS Porter, shown in 2006, sank pirate skiffs tied to the stern of the hijacked vessel.
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. E-mail to a friend
From Barbara Starr
CNN
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- 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.
art.uss.porter.navy.jpg
The destroyer USS Porter, shown in 2006, sank pirate skiffs tied to the stern of the hijacked vessel.
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. E-mail to a friend
Hope they sink a few more 'rates....
Post by: Scout26 on October 30, 2007, 02:13:10 PM
US Navy to the vessel's owners: "Here's your ship back, sorry about the holes, but with some spackle and little paint it'll look good as new. Oh, you like our new bow spirt decorations
? They're (former) pirates heads...... "Post by: Mabs2 on October 30, 2007, 02:14:56 PM
YOU
ARE
A PIRATE
Shouldn't take much to solve this problem.
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on October 30, 2007, 02:49:31 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene
ixnay on the shots
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on October 30, 2007, 02:53:46 PM
Pledge your fidelity to His Noodley Wisdom!
http://www.venganza.org
Post by: Scout26 on October 30, 2007, 03:06:05 PM
Quote
benzene go boom
Maybe other pirates see the big kaboom and find a new line of work
?Or as they say pour encourager les autres....
Post by: Manedwolf on October 30, 2007, 03:26:28 PM
And if there's no hostages on the ship, that'd be bad why?
Post by: CAnnoneer on October 30, 2007, 03:58:10 PM
A shot off the bow won't do *expletive deleted*it, because the pirates know the navy will not actually shoot the ship itself. Probably even a small-arms firefight on board is out of the question, considering the cargo.
Is Somalia the next toilet our imperial gov will invade?
Post by: 280plus on October 30, 2007, 05:38:17 PM
Post by: Thor on October 30, 2007, 05:46:34 PM
Post by: Scout26 on October 30, 2007, 06:42:18 PM
Quote
Is Somalia the next toilet our imperial gov will invade?
BTDT, won't do it again.
I vote for a Harpoon missle.
Post by: Phyphor on October 30, 2007, 07:06:22 PM
Make the bastards learn the hard way that piracy is a real dead end.
Post by: Sergeant Bob on October 30, 2007, 07:26:03 PM
I second that. No hostages, so screw it.
Make the bastards learn the hard way that piracy is a real dead end.
Make the bastards learn the hard way that piracy is a real dead end.
The current doctrine "If you hijack another ship we'll follow you around again!" certainly isn't going to do a lot of good.
Post by: LAK on October 30, 2007, 10:54:27 PM
-----------------------------
http://searchronpaul.com
http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org
Post by: 280plus on October 31, 2007, 01:15:32 AM
Just because Capt. Girvin likes to run over sailboats in Australia doesn't mean he'd be able to blow any pirate boats up.
You heard about that? It was actually New Zealand though. One time, late at night, Mr Girvin was the OOD (Officer of the Deck) when we (a destroyer) took a real heavy roll that almost caused us to fall out of our racks. The story behind it was we were steaming along and there was a cargo ship coming the other way on our line of travel. We adjusted course to avoid it, it adjusted course to match our line again. This happened several times I guess. They tried hailing it every way they could but couldn't get a response. So they figure it's making hostile gestures with these course adjustments. They man the guns and train them on the ship, trying to raise them on the loudspeaker now, still no response. So Girvin plays a little high seas chicken with them and cuts a 180* turn JUST in time to avoid them. As we're doing this the watches can see a guy on the bridge of the ship trying to steer with one hand and put his pants on with the other. The whole crew had been sleeping and the ship was on auto pilot.
One of my closer scrapes with international incident.
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 31, 2007, 02:55:36 AM
Post by: French G. on October 31, 2007, 04:44:28 AM
Post by: Scout26 on October 31, 2007, 05:45:28 AM
Quote
U.S. Navy aids crew that foiled hijacking
October 31, 2007
SOMALIA - A U.S. Navy destroyer helped sailors who retook control of their vessel Tuesday in a deadly battle with pirates after the North Korean-flagged ship was hijacked in the piracy-plagued waters off Somalia.
A helicopter crew from the USS Williams, responding to a phoned-in tip of a hijacked ship, demanded by radio that the pirates give up their weapons, the military said. The crew of the Dai Hong Dan then overwhelmed the hijackers, leaving two pirates dead and five captured.
The Navy also confirmed that other U.S. warships sank two pirate skiffs late Sunday.
October 31, 2007
SOMALIA - A U.S. Navy destroyer helped sailors who retook control of their vessel Tuesday in a deadly battle with pirates after the North Korean-flagged ship was hijacked in the piracy-plagued waters off Somalia.
A helicopter crew from the USS Williams, responding to a phoned-in tip of a hijacked ship, demanded by radio that the pirates give up their weapons, the military said. The crew of the Dai Hong Dan then overwhelmed the hijackers, leaving two pirates dead and five captured.
The Navy also confirmed that other U.S. warships sank two pirate skiffs late Sunday.
At least the North Koreans aren't afraid to go mano~a~mano with priates. Maybe if more merchant crews were armed and trained at repelling boarders this wouldn't happen as much. But in these days of "just lie there and be a good little victim", that won't happen.....
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 31, 2007, 06:19:55 AM
BTDT, this is not the first time we've recently chased/captured pirates in that area.
This would be the reason for one of our first, if not our first, incursion to foreign soil. The year was 1805.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Derna
This was during the first Barbary War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
What's interesting about this whole thing is that it was a North Korean vessel. That oughta foster some goodwill, protecting NK's shipping.
Post by: Tallpine on October 31, 2007, 06:36:36 AM
Quote
Maybe if more merchant crews were armed and trained at repelling boarders this wouldn't happen as much.
I don't understand why ship owners and crews don't take steps to protect their own vessels (investments).
A few swivel guns would take care of the smaller pirate craft in short order.
Post by: Manedwolf on October 31, 2007, 06:49:05 AM
Quote
Maybe if more merchant crews were armed and trained at repelling boarders this wouldn't happen as much.
I don't understand why ship owners and crews don't take steps to protect their own vessels (investments).
A few swivel guns would take care of the smaller pirate craft in short order.
I believe it's against international law.
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 31, 2007, 06:51:32 AM
Quote
Maybe if more merchant crews were armed and trained at repelling boarders this wouldn't happen as much.
I don't understand why ship owners and crews don't take steps to protect their own vessels (investments).
A few swivel guns would take care of the smaller pirate craft in short order.
Because many, many ports will not allow armed ships or armed crews in. Some won't even allow armed ships in thier territorial waters.
There is an interesting special on pirates that was on the History channel not too long ago. The mentioned that. They showed some shipping companies that were helocoptering contractors on and off ships in very dangerous waters....but they interviewed some dork from some agency that spewed a bunch of blissninnery about arming merchant ships.
Post by: mfree on October 31, 2007, 08:41:34 AM
NK Benzene hauler gets "hijaacked" by Somalis. Ship goes off course for a while, off it's plan, etc. Somalis unload "questionable" items that were on board. NK crew "takes the ship back" from the pirates, goes about their merry way with nobody the wiser. NK has it's ship, pirates have whatever it was that was given to them...
Post by: Scout26 on October 31, 2007, 08:49:51 AM
1) Get a nicely outfitted Man 'o War.
2) Get Letter of Marque from Congress
3) Set sail for Horn of Africa.
4) Offer to escort merchant ships for a nominal fee.
5) Make piles of cash and get to play with fun toys !!!!
Post by: MechAg94 on October 31, 2007, 08:53:46 AM
Post by: HankB on October 31, 2007, 09:39:40 AM
. . . A shot off the bow won't do *expletive deleted*it, because the pirates know the navy will not actually shoot the ship itself. Probably even a small-arms firefight on board is out of the question, considering the cargo.
Sounds like there is a legitimate use for chemical weapons after all . . . . There was a rumor some years back that pirates tried to hijack a large merchantman somewhere around Indonesia . . . as they attacked, they were met with a hail of gunfire from all manner of small arms and artillery . . . the "merchantman" was supposedly a new amphibious assault vessel belonging to the Russian Navy. (This really is a feel-good story, but do the Russkies even have any amphibious assault vessels?)
Post by: Manedwolf on October 31, 2007, 09:43:20 AM
I doubt the Benzene would go boom. I guess it depends on how it was stored. I don't think it would burn without oxygen/air to burn with. It could catch fire and be very hard to put out though. I would be more worried about leaks affecting our sailors.
Mont Blanc, Halifax Harbor, 1917.
It was the guncotton and picric acid that blew it up, but spilled drums of benzene lashed to the deck caused a massive inferno that set that off.
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on October 31, 2007, 11:22:38 AM
Quote
NK Benzene hauler gets "hijaacked" by Somalis. Ship goes off course for a while, off it's plan, etc. Somalis unload "questionable" items that were on board. NK crew "takes the ship back" from the pirates, goes about their merry way with nobody the wiser. NK has it's ship, pirates have whatever it was that was given to them...
If the tanker is a floating bomb, the US isn't going to use force to stop it.
I wonder what got dropped over the side in an airtight/watertight container for a later pickup date? Maybe about 2.5 kilograms of warm grey metal in a lead container?
Post by: Tallpine on October 31, 2007, 01:35:41 PM
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Because many, many ports will not allow armed ships or armed crews in. Some won't even allow armed ships in thier territorial waters.
So don't go there. If all the merchant ships follow that policy, then said countries and ports will be begging for commerce to resume.
I just think that it's a crock that we have to go protect some other country's ships on the other side of the world.
Post by: Firethorn on October 31, 2007, 03:54:13 PM
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Because many, many ports will not allow armed ships or armed crews in. Some won't even allow armed ships in thier territorial waters.
So don't go there. If all the merchant ships follow that policy, then said countries and ports will be begging for commerce to resume.
I just think that it's a crock that we have to go protect some other country's ships on the other side of the world.
I'd have to agree, but an awful lot of ships would go bankrupt in the meantime.
Makes me want to set up our own little Island paradise. Heck, a number of them, so we have an excuse to run armed cargo ships in between them.
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 03:59:48 PM
Post by: 280plus on October 31, 2007, 04:48:31 PM
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 04:54:27 PM
You mean the ones without the AK-47s and RPGs?
I always wondered about that-AK's are great, and so are RPGs, but against a vessel? That's like hunting polar bears with a beeman.
Post by: MechAg94 on October 31, 2007, 05:42:50 PM
I doubt the Benzene would go boom. I guess it depends on how it was stored. I don't think it would burn without oxygen/air to burn with. It could catch fire and be very hard to put out though. I would be more worried about leaks affecting our sailors.
Mont Blanc, Halifax Harbor, 1917.
It was the guncotton and picric acid that blew it up, but spilled drums of benzene lashed to the deck caused a massive inferno that set that off.
The plant I work at makes hydrogen and CO. It is only explosive if you mixed it with oxygen. We monitor for that and purge with nitrogen if necessary. Purging out air/oxygen after shutdowns is critical.
Other plants of ours make pure oxygen. Seeing the results of an oxygen fire in a compressor is very impressive. Just about anything will burn in pure oxygen.
Post by: Firethorn on October 31, 2007, 06:22:56 PM
The firehoses are good defenses, from what I'm told, against the less sophistocated pirate vessels.
Better yet, hook the firehose up to a fuel tank, and have another crewman standing by with a flare launcher...
Post by: Manedwolf on November 01, 2007, 04:31:12 AM
The firehoses are good defenses, from what I'm told, against the less sophistocated pirate vessels.
Better yet, hook the firehose up to a fuel tank, and have another crewman standing by with a flare launcher...
Oh, that's a GOOD and evil idea, actually. When in pirate waters, keep a high-pressure pump on deck that can handle solvents. Bring up a drum of diesel, bunker oil or whatever. Spray at marauding vessel, start launching flares.
Quote
I always wondered about that-AK's are great, and so are RPGs, but against a vessel? That's like hunting polar bears with a beeman.
All they need to hit is the bridge, even the base of the funnel to screw up the ship pretty badly. Also, most merchant ships do not have very thick hulls. An antitank-penetrator RPG into the stern would likely punch right through the shell plating and explode in the engineering spaces.
For other antipirate things in the future...one word. Railgun.
Post by: Chris on November 01, 2007, 05:18:48 AM
Post by: Tallpine on November 01, 2007, 06:18:16 AM
Post by: French G. on November 01, 2007, 07:00:59 AM
If you think humanity is great you should capture some Somali pirates. 100lb malnourished, poo flinging(literally) savages. They usually come as a boxed set with AKs and RPGs in a dilapidated motorized dory full of the world's biggest cockroaches.
Post by: Manedwolf on November 01, 2007, 09:07:46 AM
Really, I'm surprised that some pirates haven't bought one of those surplus diesel subs that the Ruskies are selling off ...
Go tour the one that's in Long Beach, and look at how many hundreds of valves there are to turn in the engine room. There was one in Rhode Island, too, but it sank, and not in a good way.
They're a little complex to operate for illiterate thugs.
Post by: Scout26 on November 01, 2007, 09:28:38 AM
Quote
They're a little complex to operate for illiterate thugs.
Yep, getting them to go under the water is easy.
Getting them to come back up is the tricky part....
Post by: The Viking on November 01, 2007, 10:19:03 AM
Having been through the U-505 at Museum of Science and Industry here in Chicago.
Yep, getting them to go under the water is easy.
Getting them to come back up is the tricky part....
You say this as if it is a bad thing Quote
They're a little complex to operate for illiterate thugs.
Yep, getting them to go under the water is easy.
Getting them to come back up is the tricky part....
.
Post by: Tallpine on November 01, 2007, 11:51:24 AM
Quote
They're a little complex to operate for illiterate thugs.
They just need "Commander Dodge" (Kelsey Grammer) to straighten them out.
The merchant ships could arm themselves with pumpkin cannons made of PVC pipe. Surely they have air compressors on board ...?
Post by: 280plus on November 01, 2007, 11:58:09 AM
Post by: Manedwolf on November 01, 2007, 12:05:11 PM
The WWII ones are tiiiiiight to move around in, especially for someone tall. The USS Nautilus wasn't too bad, but the doorways were still a bit low. Decent wardroom, though. Wow, those bunks are close together! Sit up more than an inch or so and you'd whack your face.
A more recent "boomer" was absolutely luxurious in space, though. More like wandering around some sort of spaceship.
Also, they really made toys like this at one time?!
Post by: Werewolf on November 01, 2007, 12:20:35 PM
Quote
Also, they really made toys like this at one time?!
DAMN!That thing is truly COOOOOOL! and only $6.98.
I want one.
Christmas is comin' up.
Darn it! Why do we have to grow up?
Post by: De Selby on November 01, 2007, 01:34:17 PM
All they need to hit is the bridge, even the base of the funnel to screw up the ship pretty badly. Also, most merchant ships do not have very thick hulls. An antitank-penetrator RPG into the stern would likely punch right through the shell plating and explode in the engineering spaces.
For other antipirate things in the future...one word. Railgun.
I'm trying to imagine how an RPG would cripple something like a container ship or a tanker with a hit as described, and I still come up with an image of a guy shooting polar bears with his pellet gun. What would hitting the masthead or making a hole in some compartment in the stern do besides....make a relatively small hole?
Post by: CAnnoneer on November 01, 2007, 02:11:35 PM
Post by: Jamisjockey on November 01, 2007, 02:21:32 PM
All they need to hit is the bridge, even the base of the funnel to screw up the ship pretty badly. Also, most merchant ships do not have very thick hulls. An antitank-penetrator RPG into the stern would likely punch right through the shell plating and explode in the engineering spaces.
For other antipirate things in the future...one word. Railgun.
I'm trying to imagine how an RPG would cripple something like a container ship or a tanker with a hit as described, and I still come up with an image of a guy shooting polar bears with his pellet gun. What would hitting the masthead or making a hole in some compartment in the stern do besides....make a relatively small hole?
They probably aim for the bridge.
Post by: De Selby on November 01, 2007, 02:23:48 PM
All they need to hit is the bridge, even the base of the funnel to screw up the ship pretty badly. Also, most merchant ships do not have very thick hulls. An antitank-penetrator RPG into the stern would likely punch right through the shell plating and explode in the engineering spaces.
For other antipirate things in the future...one word. Railgun.
I'm trying to imagine how an RPG would cripple something like a container ship or a tanker with a hit as described, and I still come up with an image of a guy shooting polar bears with his pellet gun. What would hitting the masthead or making a hole in some compartment in the stern do besides....make a relatively small hole?
They probably aim for the bridge.
What would this do, besides make a small hole wherever the rocket strikes?
Seriously folks-take a stand next to a container ship sometime. Even a moderately sized one is HUGE.
Maybe someone with Navy/Merchant Marine experience can chime in and tell us more about the pirate threat.
Post by: 280plus on November 01, 2007, 05:00:30 PM
Post by: Jamisjockey on November 01, 2007, 05:43:50 PM
Also, I wonder how often they catch the crew going at slow speed, like by pretending to be a vessel in distress, then find a way to board the ship?
Post by: Matthew Carberry on November 01, 2007, 07:04:36 PM
http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Waters-Modern-Piracy-Terror/dp/0525946799
Post by: DustinD on November 01, 2007, 10:35:46 PM
They also mentioned several famous modern pirate attacks. One involved pirates with RPGs firing on a cruise ship. Despite the many rounds fired little damage to the ship was done and almost no one was injured or killed. Half of the rounds were duds though. I think that was the incident were the ship used one of those high frequency directed noise guns/dishes to get the pirates to leave.
Being a fan of Neal Stephenson's book Snow Crash, I would recommending using Reason.
There is supposedly a show about pirate hunters in production, here is a trailer on You Tube. Pirate Hunters
Post by: Scout26 on November 02, 2007, 11:31:48 AM
Quote
US Seeks to Remove Pirates From Ships
By EDWARD HARRIS | Associated Press Writer
7:47 AM CDT, November 2, 2007
NAIROBI, Kenya - The U.S. Navy on Friday kept its eye on a Japanese tanker taken over by pirates off Somalia's coast, while a top U.S. official said that piracy remains a "very serious security problem" in the region.
Earlier this week, a North Korean tanker overrun by pirates was taken back after crew members overpowered the hijackers in a bloody fight. The hijackers were being held aboard the ship until they can be handed over for prosecution at a port.
The U.S. Navy's also came to the aid of the Japanese chemical tanker this week, with the guided missile destroyer USS Porter at one point opening fire to destroy pirate skiffs tied to it. On Thursday, the U.S. Navy said that it intended to remove the pirates from the Japanese tanker.
The pirates have demanded a navy ship close to the hijacked vessel move away, said Tess Villanueva, wife of the crew's foreman, Laureano. It was unclear whether the Porter, which is part of the coalition force in the area, is the ship closest to the Golden Nori.
"Apparently the navy ship was getting closer to them," she told The Associated Press in the Philippines. "The good news would be if they (pirates) leave the ship."
Villanueva said the information was relayed to her late Thursday by Redentor Anaya, vice president for operations of SeaCrest Maritime Management Inc., which recruited the Filipino crew for the Golden Nori.
After the clash on the North Korean boat, Navy personnel boarded the vessel to treat the wounded. The U.S. efforts came despite its hostile relations with the communist country over its nuclear program.
"You'll always find our Navy prepared to help any ship in distress and certainly any ship that is confronting pirates," said Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top American envoy to six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
"This is a very serious security problem on the African coast. These are not pirates who will remind you of Johnny Depp. These are quite different kinds of pirates," Hill told reporters in Seoul, South Korea.
"So, I think we were pleased to be able to help in this regard and I hope the (North) understands that we did this out of the sense of goodwill that we have on this," he said.
Negotiations have started for the release of the Japanese tanker, anchored in Somali waters with 23 crew members from the Philippines, South Korea and Myanmar, said Josefina Villanueva, Laureano's sister.
Josefina Villanueva said there had been no ransom demand from the pirates. "The talks are just starting. I think the pirates will later on demand something," she said.
On Friday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said the captain of the ship contacted the Japanese company that owns the vessel the day before and reported that the crew was fine.
There has been no direct contact between the Philippine government and the pirates, he added.
"The problem is there is no central government in control (in Somalia)," he said.
The Golden Nori was carrying a load of benzene when the USS Porter fired on two pirate boats tied to the chemical tanker Sunday, sinking both. Benzene, an industrial solvent, is both highly flammable and can be fatal if too much is inhaled. The U.S. military said it was aware of what was onboard when it fired at the skiffs.
Somali pirates are trained fighters, in some cases linked to powerful Somali clans, outfitted with sophisticated arms and equipment, including GPS satellite instruments. They have seized merchant ships, ships carrying aid, and once even a cruise ship.
The United States also has supported efforts to quell an Islamic insurgency in Somalia.
Somalia has been without a functioning government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, then turned on each other. The current government was formed in 2004, but has struggled to assert any real control.
By EDWARD HARRIS | Associated Press Writer
7:47 AM CDT, November 2, 2007
NAIROBI, Kenya - The U.S. Navy on Friday kept its eye on a Japanese tanker taken over by pirates off Somalia's coast, while a top U.S. official said that piracy remains a "very serious security problem" in the region.
Earlier this week, a North Korean tanker overrun by pirates was taken back after crew members overpowered the hijackers in a bloody fight. The hijackers were being held aboard the ship until they can be handed over for prosecution at a port.
The U.S. Navy's also came to the aid of the Japanese chemical tanker this week, with the guided missile destroyer USS Porter at one point opening fire to destroy pirate skiffs tied to it. On Thursday, the U.S. Navy said that it intended to remove the pirates from the Japanese tanker.
The pirates have demanded a navy ship close to the hijacked vessel move away, said Tess Villanueva, wife of the crew's foreman, Laureano. It was unclear whether the Porter, which is part of the coalition force in the area, is the ship closest to the Golden Nori.
"Apparently the navy ship was getting closer to them," she told The Associated Press in the Philippines. "The good news would be if they (pirates) leave the ship."
Villanueva said the information was relayed to her late Thursday by Redentor Anaya, vice president for operations of SeaCrest Maritime Management Inc., which recruited the Filipino crew for the Golden Nori.
After the clash on the North Korean boat, Navy personnel boarded the vessel to treat the wounded. The U.S. efforts came despite its hostile relations with the communist country over its nuclear program.
"You'll always find our Navy prepared to help any ship in distress and certainly any ship that is confronting pirates," said Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top American envoy to six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
"This is a very serious security problem on the African coast. These are not pirates who will remind you of Johnny Depp. These are quite different kinds of pirates," Hill told reporters in Seoul, South Korea.
"So, I think we were pleased to be able to help in this regard and I hope the (North) understands that we did this out of the sense of goodwill that we have on this," he said.
Negotiations have started for the release of the Japanese tanker, anchored in Somali waters with 23 crew members from the Philippines, South Korea and Myanmar, said Josefina Villanueva, Laureano's sister.
Josefina Villanueva said there had been no ransom demand from the pirates. "The talks are just starting. I think the pirates will later on demand something," she said.
On Friday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said the captain of the ship contacted the Japanese company that owns the vessel the day before and reported that the crew was fine.
There has been no direct contact between the Philippine government and the pirates, he added.
"The problem is there is no central government in control (in Somalia)," he said.
The Golden Nori was carrying a load of benzene when the USS Porter fired on two pirate boats tied to the chemical tanker Sunday, sinking both. Benzene, an industrial solvent, is both highly flammable and can be fatal if too much is inhaled. The U.S. military said it was aware of what was onboard when it fired at the skiffs.
Somali pirates are trained fighters, in some cases linked to powerful Somali clans, outfitted with sophisticated arms and equipment, including GPS satellite instruments. They have seized merchant ships, ships carrying aid, and once even a cruise ship.
The United States also has supported efforts to quell an Islamic insurgency in Somalia.
Somalia has been without a functioning government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, then turned on each other. The current government was formed in 2004, but has struggled to assert any real control.
The other report I saw in the Tribune reported 3 pirates and/or 3 North Koreans with gunshot wounds evac'd to an USN ship for medical treatment. I got the impression that the NK's weren't following the "no guns on merchant ships" rule.......So that's one thing the NK's and I agree on.