Somali pirates hijack 2 freighters in one day

[thewiseguy]

(CNN) -- Pirates off the coast of Somalia seized two freighters Tuesday, proving they remain a force to contend with just days after the U.S. Navy dramatically rescued an American captain held by other pirates.

First, pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday hijacked the MV Irene EM, a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier, according to a NATO spokesman and the European Union's Maritime Security Center.

The crew of the Greek carrier was thought to be unhurt and ships have been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attack, the Security Center said.

Later Tuesday, pirates on four skiffs seized the 5,000-ton MV Sea Horse, a Lebanese-owned and Togo-flagged vessel, said Cmdr. Chris Davies of NATO's Maritime Component Command Headquarters in Northwood, England.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/14/somalia.pirates/index.html?section=cnn_latest

So is it time to re-visit the you are being lied to about the pirates thread again? :eyes:

Or the ones that are "morning" the death of those poor pirates?! :-(

[Occam Bandage]

1. This is an international problem. I'm glad America has woken up to it. nt

[thewiseguy]

3. Pirates fire rifles and RPGs at another cargo vessel

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE065232.htm

[hedgehog]

2. I say it's up to the Togo navy to address this particular problem.

[anonymous171]

6. I agree. nt

[Uzybone]

8. true. The US Navy should not involve itself

[stray cat]

4. that should help the environment....

:banghead:

[cobalt1999]

5. I've been doing it all wrong.

I've been trying to save gas, reduce electrical consumption, recycle. Crap!

All this time I should have been hijacking cargo vessels to save the planet. Who knew?

[razorman]

7. I notice that none of these have been American ships so far.

[thewiseguy]

9. There are 17 ships with 300 crew that are still in pirates hands

Obviously none are American. I think the American cargo ships are well protected so the pirates tend to stay away.

[hedgehog]

11. You get what you pay for. Charter your ship in America, crew it with

Americans and you get a well paid crew protected by American labor law operating a ship under American rules and regulations and protected by the US Navy. Flag your ship under Togo or Liberia and you can hire anybody, pay them squat and sail anything that floats, but you might have to pay ransom to pirates.

[anonymous171]

14. Correct. nt

[NeedleCast]

10. Clearly This is a Dangerous Spot to Sail

Are most of these attacks happening off the North coast of Somalia between Somalia and Yemen?

[Marie26]

13. Per CNN

the pirates are roaming the open seas for hundreds of miles off the coast of Africa - in an area as large as the distance between Houston, Chicago & DC.

[opihimoimoi]

12. As President Obama sez....this prob needs an International effort

This is way past the nip it in the bud stage...this is OH OH we HAVE to STOP THIS SHIT

The UN must take action with a coalition and a plan to ELIMINAT THE THREAT...In 2009...? This is INSANE

[malletgirl02]

15. I agree

The problem needs an international effort the US can't do it alone.

[opihimoimoi]

16. I hope they won't Dilly over it...this is ASAP stuphs