Saturday 23 July 2011

Andrew Mwangura Will Have Apoplexy…

Yes, the Seafarers' Assistance Programme spokesman won’t be happy at all:
The threat from pirates to British shipping is so great that UK-flagged vessels – including many that visit Southampton – will soon be able to employ armed guards as they navigate dangerous waters.
Let’s hope they won’t just fire in the air, either:
Shipping minister Mike Penning has indicated the Government is about to introduce new legislation which will change the present law and give the legal go-ahead for ships flying the red ensign to recruit armed guards.
About time!

13 comments:

Gallovidian said...

Russian ships just arm the crew with AKs. They don't get attacked.

Shinar's Basket Case said...

FFS! We have people called 'Marines' for a reason! Rent out ten man (?) squads to each british ship. The Government could actually break the habit of a life time and make some money...be cheaper than the ransoms the shipping lines have to pay.

Anonymous said...

Once upon a time there was a very well run organisation called "The Royal Navy" before years of neglect reduced it to a shade of its former self. They had a tried and tested means of dealing with piracy...
Hunt them down and kill them. All of them.
Under our politically correct "governments" the few ships remaining are "fitted for but not with" things like armaments, sensors etc. Presumably in case some poor little darling has their feelings hurt when caught trying to steal a cargo.
In the good old days when the Navy was a fighting force the means of supressing piracy was simple. Kill the Pirates, sink their ships and destroy any port or settlement harbouring piracy. Nowadays we give them bloody nicotine patches and help them on their way home rather than assist them to reach the Next World. Any survivors will quickly understand the message that piracy will stop or else...

Anonymous said...

So can I get a dingy and a permit for an AK?

Anonymous said...

This has the feel of an arms' race. Pirates will arm up and perhaps be able to lay siege as in the past. Britain will be rich again! Or have I got the intent wrong?

blueknight said...

The Melody is an Italian cruise ship - I've been on it.
Remembering what happened to the Achille Lauro in 1985, this new move is long overdue

Captain Haddock said...

A former comrade of mine is a Master-At-Arms for one of the major cruise lines, which employs mainly, ex Gurkhas as on-board security ..

Ancient + Tattered Airman said...

I will volunteer to protect British shipping in those waters without payment, especially during the winter!

JuliaM said...

"Russian ships just arm the crew with AKs. They don't get attacked."

I bet it makes crew-member disputes a little more interesting too!

"Rent out ten man (?) squads to each british ship. "

We can't afford their loss, and the Somalian pirates would be better equipped..

"In the good old days when the Navy was a fighting force the means of supressing piracy was simple. Kill the Pirates, sink their ships and destroy any port or settlement harbouring piracy. Nowadays we give them bloody nicotine patches and help them on their way home..."

Those we don't give asylum to!

"So can I get a dingy and a permit for an AK?"

It seems you can do better than that!

JuliaM said...

"This has the feel of an arms' race. Pirates will arm up and perhaps be able to lay siege as in the past. "

They already are armed to the teeth. Make the price too high, and they'll decide piracy isn't worth it after all.

"...which employs mainly, ex Gurkhas as on-board security .."

Bet that's a quiet ship!

Gallovidian said...

I think the master just hands them out on occasion.

Anonymous said...

"...which employs mainly, ex Gurkhas as on-board security .."

Bet that's a quiet ship!

Yep, I have a friend who lives in Mid Wales close to where the ghurkas train. anyway you can see them out in the pubs in blazers. they are about a foot shorter than anyone else out there and whenever the proverbial wild west pub fight breaks out (quite often) it never goes anywhere near our Nepalese friends. This is not coincidence.

If you happen to pass Winchester, check out the Ghurka museum.

Furor Teutonicus said...

It takes the wind RIGHT out of their sails when they return to harbour, to find their village has been napalmed while they were away.

Ahhh, Sturmbannführer Adolf Diekmann "Das Reich" SS division, (Oradour-sur-Glane), and "Charlie" company, 1st battlion, 20th infantry, 11th infantry brigade, of the Americal Division, United States Army (My Lai), we miss you, REALLY we do.