A couple of links and comments

Comment One.

http://tslrf.blogspot.com/2008/11/pirates.html
Friday, November 28, 2008

Pirates

So pirates are back, with another hijacked ship of the Somali coast... The three man security team put up a "sustained non-lethal defence" of the ship, before being overcome. Now I don't want to be too much of an asshole, but seriously? A sustained non-lethal defense? Pirates are trying to kill you, and you go for the non-lethal? Here is an idea for ships in the area, carry guns. When they try to shoot you, shoot them. This is not rocket science, is the old school way of fighting pirates. The pirate captain was quoted, saying, "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."

Is this where we are at? Whats sad about this quote is that he is half right. We have chosen not to do anything. Its not that we cant, but we lack the balls. Where is Jefferson when we need him?

Comment - It is up to the yachtsman/cruiser to take actions to prepare himself and his vessel, not the government or anyone else.

Comment Two.

http://infidelsarecool.com/2008/11/29/day-4-in-mumbai-its-finally-over/
- approx. halfway down -

Ten men, all apparently in their early 20s, jumped out. They stripped off orange windbreakers to reveal T-shirts and blue jeans. Then they began hoisting large, heavy backpacks out of the boat and onto their shoulders, each taking care to claim the pack assigned to him.

Mr. Dhanur flipped his boat light toward the men, and Kashinath Patil, a 72-year-old harbor official on duty nearby, asked the men what they were doing.

“I said: ‘Where are you going? What’s in your bags?’ “ Mr. Patil recalled. “They said: ‘We don’t want any attention. Don’t bother us.’ “

Thus began a crucial phase of one of the deadliest terrorist assaults in Indian history, one that seemed from the start to be coordinated meticulously to cause maximum fear and chaos.

Comment - Could this have been stopped by early questioning of suspicious activities? Be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts.

Sobering news - and what does it portend?

Terrorists in Mumbai attack arrive by boat

By IBI Magazine

Terrorists who attacked the financial district, railway station and two upscale hotels yesterday in Mumbai arrived by small high-speed boats, according to local press reports. The terrorists, whose boats may be registered in Pakistan, are responsible for the killing of at least 100 people and wounding of 200 more.

According to Sify.com, the terrorists arrived by boat at the Gateway of India jetty, which is Mumbai's most identifiable landmark, and then crossed the street to the Taj Mahal palace. They also commandeered vehicles to attack the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, the Leopold café while entering the Taj and the Oberoi Trident hotels. They are still holding tourists as hostages in the hotels. Reports say the terrorists singled out US and UK citizens.

The Gateway of India jetty is a popular tourist destination and typically has 200 boats moored there. "We know they arrived at the jetty and then began targeting popular sites in south Mumbai. We have yet to establish if they came in from sea routes from Karachi," a top intelligence told the website.

"Unlike previous terror attacks in cities across India this year that involved planting bombs, this time around gunmen have been at the forefront lobbing grenades and firing from their AK-47 assault weapons," the official said. "The attackers call themselves the Deccan Mujahideen but we have not heard of such a group and we don't know if it is genuine. But we understand that some of the terrorists spoke Hindi from eyewitnesses."

Other news sources speculate that the attackers are Pakistani nationals and that their boats are registered in Pakistan. The Times of India reported that Colaba police have impounded four boats used by the terrorists to reach the Mumbai coast. Indian warships and surveillance aircraft are searching around Mumbai to look for a 'Mother Ship' which could have ferried the terrorists and their boats.

Terrorist attacks by small boats are not unprecedented. Al Qaeda used a small boat in 2000 to attack the USS Cole in Yemen. The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka have also used small boats to attack that country's navy, including "stealth suicide craft." US officials have speculated that small boats could be used to attack major urban centers in US ports or other strategic targets like liquid propane gas terminals.

(27 November 2008)

As awful as the actual events are, what knee jerk reactions from the various governments around the world going to do to civilian yachtsmen/cruisers/boaters? Keep an eye out for excessive regulation coming down the pike, for "our own safety" of course.

Latest update for Maritime Vital Asset Protection, LLC

We have been busy. We recently acquired from Pam at pamcom security her internet security and surveillance camera sites, and are in the process of updating and learning how the whole venture works.

Please check out the sites.

http://www.pamcompersonalsecurity.com/

http://www.pamcomsecuritysystems.com/

Also working in tandem with Phantom Security, link is on the right hand side.

We are committed to helping educate and assist the civilian yachting/cruising/boating community - drop us a line and let us help you.

Don

Sad news from Venezuela

Here are some links to an attack that has occurred in Venezuela.

http://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/caribbeancentral-america/pirate-attack-claims-life-of-beloved-cruiser-1000067340-p1.html

http://www.doyleguides.com/updatesvenez.html

http://forums.cruisingworld.com/showthread.php?t=18146

US Consulate Guayaquil issues Piracy Warning for Ecuador

An article from www.maritimeterrorism.com

Posted by Akiva

November 24, 2008

In their latest Warden Message (November 19, 2008) the U.S. Consulate Guayaquil issued a piracy warning for Ecuador. In their message the U.S. Consulate General and U.S. Embassy Ecuador wishes to inform American citizens visiting or resident in Ecuador to use extreme caution when sailing near the coast of Ecuador, as there was a recent incident of armed robbery at sea off the coast of Ensenada de Pedernales, Manabi by modern day pirates. Recreational craft, merchant vessels and fishing boats all are at risk for attack by pirates. This incident highlights the continuing danger of maritime travel off the coast of Ecuador. If transit off the coast is unavoidable, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys, transit over the horizon from land, and maintain good communication at all times.

Before planning a trip at sea research anti-piracy measures. Ensure your vessel maintains an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitter, working transponders and HF and VHF radios, use high illumination lights after dark, lock your doors to living spaces, gather information from other vessels, have personnel on watch on deck at night, increase your speed, and keep your distance from suspicious ships. A reported pirate tactic has been to issue a false distress call to lure a vessel closer into a trap; therefore caution should be taken when responding to distress calls.

The Department of State encourages U.S. citizens to ensure that standard U.S. Coast Guard required safety equipment is aboard; including life preservers are available prior to getting underway. American citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness, even when on the open seas. The U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulate General will continue to monitor the situation and keep American citizens apprised of any further developments.

Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. Please see the following links for local warden message information in Quito and Guayaquil.

U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information for Ecuador and the latest Travel Alerts and Warnings and Worldwide Caution at the Department's web site. Updated information on travel and security in Ecuador may also be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States or by calling +1-202-501-4444 outside the United States.

The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at Avigiras E12-170 y Eloy Alfaro. The telephone during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 593 2 398 5000 X3800. Within the same city use the last seven digits. Add the city code for intercity telephone calls. See also the Embassy web site. American Citizen walk-in hours are between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday thruThursday, excluding U.S. and Ecuadorian holidays.

The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil is located at the corner of Avenida 9 de Octubre and Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel Oro Verde); telephone (011) 593 4 232-3570 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or 232-1152 for after-hours emergencies; fax (011-593-4) 232-0904. See the Consulate General web site . American Citizen walk in hours are between 12:00 and 4:00, Monday thru Thursday, excluding U.S. and Ecuadorian holidays.

Sources:
Warden Message, U.S. Consulate Guayaquil
Warden Message, OSAC

The Triton - a great resource

Folks - sign up for the Triton (http://www.the-triton.com) (or pick up a copy) - some good articles for yachtsmen and cruisers. this months has a couple of good articles on piracy as it pertains to the smaller vessels.

Article From Noonsite - Nov 20, 2008

A View on Piracy in the Indian Ocean

Created by val. Last modified on 2008-11-20 15:03:37
Topic: Piracy

The recent audacious hijack of a giant supertanker from Saudi Arabia by Somali pirates off the Kenyan coast has dismayed the world, carried out in spite of the presence of more and more of the world's battleships. There has been no lack of news from the troubled area, but what does it mean for the cruising sailor?

If you were (or are) thinking of sailing between Asia and Europe right now, the obvious choice is to avoid the area altogether and sail around the coast of Africa, which carries its own difficulties. There's another way of thinking about it - with piracy so successful a venture for the Somalis, maybe they won't be worrying about pickings from a few tiny sailboats in the Gulf of Aden. Anyone want to test that theory? (or going to?)

On the issue of danger, it's worth remembering that the Caribbean Sea is much more dangerous than the Indian Ocean. While kidnapping is hardly pleasant, no deaths or injury have been recorded for cruising sailors in the Indian Ocean, while sailors have been left injured, permanently maimed or dead from pirate attacks in the Caribbean.

Courtesy Sail-World's Cruising World newsletter 20th Nov. 2008

Thanks to the folks at Noonsite for the reminder - even though the focus in the media is on commercial shipping, Somalia and piracy, cruising sailors still need to take measures to protect themselves.

Two from Noonsite - Violent attacks against cruisers

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2008-11-10-1/view

Fatal Pirate Attack in Venezuela

Created by sue. Last modified on 2008-11-10 17:19:20
Topic: Piracy Reports 2008
Countries: Venezuela

It has been reported on cruising forums that on Sunday night an American, the captain of the vessel Chill, Ken Peters, was killed by pirates at Isla Borracha near Puerto La Cruz.

It appears that Ken and his wife Cathy were anchored with another boat I'Lean, with fellow cruisers Steve & Gloria Davis aboard. Both boats had departed Puerto La Cruz from Bahía Redonda Marina headed west and had stopped at Isla Corracha for the night to clean the boat bottoms and prepare for the voyage west.

At approximately 1730 on Sunday a piñero with 3 men aboard approached the two anchored yachts asking for water. When one of the crew came back up from below with water, they shot Ken with pistols, and attempted to kill Steve. Details are not precise, but Steve apparently then shot at the pirates with a shotgun killing one and injuring another. Ken was killed in the exchange and Steve was shot in the thigh.

The Guarda Costa was called and responded and the 2 boats returned to Puerto La Cruz. It has been reported by cruisers in PLC that the whole community are in a state of shock and grief and that a large scale exodus of cruisers is probable.

The Venezuelan coast remains dangerous and prudent cruisers would be wise to avoid it for the time being.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2008-11-10-1/view

Attention Yachts Cruising the Ecuadorian Coast

Created by sue. Last modified on 2008-11-09 16:35:47
Topic: Piracy Reports 2008
Countries: Ecuador

SY ARGONAUTA I, currently cruising the Costa Rican coast, reported hearing of an armed boarding in Ecuador via the Panama Pacific Net, 0800 hrs local on 8 November 2008.

SY SARANA reported that while at anchor overnight they experienced an armed boarding and robbery by four men. The pirates stole money and electronic items and roughed up a crew member. Fortunately, injuries amounted to cuts and bruises.

The location of the attack was near Punta Pedernales, Equador. Co-ordinates 00 03N/080 050W.

The crew reported the incident to both the US and Ecuadorian Coast Guards. Ecuadorian authorities came on board to interview the crew.

Yachts traveling the Ecuadorian coast should note the area where the attack took place and be advised to avoid the area.

Please take proper precautions, be vigilant and cruise safely. Drop me a line to learn more actions you can take.

A reminder for all

Man found guilty in murder of couple tossed off yacht, 1 other

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/20/yatch.killings.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

Just a reminder that protection of you, your vessel and loved ones does not occur only when cruising. It can happen right at home. Be vigilant and prepared.

It would have been better if the couple had been able to defend themselves adequately against this scum.

Don