Information Sharing

Always on the lookout for new information to share, here is a site that may be useful.
Open Source Intelligence For Armchair Admirals
http://blog.usni.org/?p=5178

Paradox Marine in the news

A press release for a great company. Always helpful to me in my (still) fledgling days of business.
http://www.homeportmarine.com/marcom/paradoxnews.html

If you are in the Tampa Bay area (or anywhere else, really) and would like to know more ab out them, drop me a line.

Iran holds yacht with 5 UK nationals

Iran holds yacht with 5 UK nationals -
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091130/D9CA26680.html
and here -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232158/Five-sailors-taken-hostage-Iran.html

Awareness on land as well as at sea

Keep an awareness on land as well as at sea.

St. Lucia, Marigot Bay - Cruisers Robbed in Street
http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-11-28-1/view

French Yacht Adriano seized in Kochi by CISF

Sometimes it can seem the good guys (State Customs/Law Enforcement) can be the bad guys when they are doing their jobs. All worked out here, happily.
http://www.giirayachts.com/2009/11/french-yacht-adriano-seized-in-kochi-by-cisf.html

Maritime Mobile Nets

An idea highly recommended (probably number one recommendation) is keeping situational awareness, knowing what is going on around you.

One method is to tune in to the regular broadcasts of fellow sailors in the area.

Here are a couple of sites to start your research.

An intro - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_mobile_amateur_radio

"Maritime Mobile" Radio Nets For Cruisers - http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp

Maya Paradise's HF Frequencies for Boaters - http://www.mayaparadise.com/mmfreq1.htm

Radio Nets - http://www.71421.net/IK4HAQ/Radio_Nets.html

Updates on the 'Lynn Rival' and an article on IO and Red Sea Passage

Passage from Indian Ocean via Red Sea to Europe - Extremely Unsafe
http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-11-20-2/view


Kidnapped British couple "ill"
http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20091019150330ibinews.html

Pirate Video of Sailors at Gunpoint
http://www.yachtpals.com/pirate-chandler-7071

A couple of commercial anti-piracy articles

While I disagree with the main gist of the article (I feel the vessels have a right to be armed for protection), it is well thought out and worth reading.

http://piratebook.blogspot.com/2009/11/escalation-of-weaponry-off-horn-of.html


Here is the article mentioned in the piece - http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/anti-pirate-weapons-piracy-somalia/ and another here - http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/10-more-anti-piracy-weapons-for-use-in-somalia/

Big Post Monday

Fighting the Pirates by Remote Control - http://www.yachtpals.com/pirates-seychelles-7068 - note the piece at the bottom of the article.

ONI On Piracy - http://www.eaglespeak.us/2009/11/oni-on-piracy.html

Guidance on Compliance with ITAR - http://marinelink.com/News/Article/Guidance-on-Compliance-with-ITAR/332504.aspx - and here is the advisory (link to pdf) - http://homeport.uscg.mil/cgi-bin/st/portal/uscg_docs/MyCG/Editorial/20091110/Port%20Security%20Advisory%204-09%20(rev%202)%20Final%20(2).pdf?id=e3887a50418cc9c9cb2948f191781aa632fc7c3c

For more reading, visit the homepage at http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/programView.do?channelId=-18389&programId=63715&programPage=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2Feditorial.jsp&pageTypeId=13489

New SSB net for SE Asia, N.Indian Ocean & Red Sea

This in from Noonsite.com
http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-11-12-1

I definitely recommend this type of activity. Basically a grassroot effort to keep information flowing, not just security issues, but across the whole spectrum of activities.

Towing Issues

In the continued belief that protecting your vital asset is not just defense against armed thugs, here is an article on how to protect yourself against unscrupulous tow operators. Not an everyday occurrence, but worth reading about.

http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/2009/11/when-is-towing-boat-not-towing-boat.html

Noonsite: St. Vincent, Chateaubelair, Assault and Robbery

Caribbean: St. Vincent, Chateaubelair, Assault and Robbery
http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-11-05-1/view

More details when the become available. Please do not let the media attention on Somalia distract you from the area you are cruising in.

Noonsite articles for 02 Nov....

An update on the British couple taken by Somali pirates - http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-11-02-4/view - seems the pirates realize they are not the source of unimaginable wealth as first thought.
Off Nicaragua, a 47' sailing yacht was boarded - http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-11-02-2/view.
Somewhere the lawyers are developing the legal definitions between pirates, thieves, misunderstood fishermen, local rights activists, etc. Bottom line, asshats with guns and bad intentions are out there - denying otherwise can lead to a rude (and deadly) realization. Take care of yourselves while cruising - enjoy but be aware.

I just finished reading 'Meditation on Violence' by Rory Miller.
Highly recommended reading for self-defense/security minded folks.
A few quotes from the book.
From the preface - Never, ever, ever delegate responsibility for your own safety. Never, ever, ever, override your own experience and common sense on the say-so of some self-proclaimed 'expert'.
Never, ever, ever ignore what your eyes see because it isn't what you imagined.

And later - In general, respond to the situation as it is. Not to your fantasy and not to your paranoia.