ZHEN HUA 4 Pirate Attack Photos – Chinese Sailors Defend Ship With Beer Bottles

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I know nothing about commercial shipping, but I was aware of piracy around the horn, having read some articles on this issue. I had a thought, since commercial vessels will sometimes take on passengers for minimal or reduced passage, can't these passengers(since they are not part of the crew) have their own arms? Would this be an infringement of international maritime laws? Could the captain profess not knowing that his passengers were armed?

Thomas Jefferson said we should "clean out the nest" when he was dealing with US piracy issues at the beginning of the 19th century, still applicable today. If the current US administration expects a multilateral approach to ridding the seas of piracy, we will be sorely dissapointed, our "allies" in that part of the world, the Saudis should certainly lend a hand, but who knows, maybe the pirates are being funded by a another Muslim nation. Maybe this is jihad, or guerilla terrorism, Something to think about.

As a civilian landlubber I am amazed and appalled that the captains have virtually no recourse to defense of their vessels. Firehoses and Axes? That is an insult to the sailors putting there lives on the line to deliver goods.

This so-called Piracy is no different from the Drug Traffic faced in Latin America and a similar War On Pirates Should/Must be declared.

- Where are the ship owners on this?
- Why can't / won;t they bring the pressure needed to properly arm vessels or provide Military Support?
- Why do major Ports ban legitimate registered vessels who happen to arm themselves to protect life, ship, and cargo ?

Failing the above I can only see the following recourse:
- Build your own compressed 2" air deck cannon, in theory to fire rubber shells, but load it with molotav's as needed.
- Build your own Compressed air cannons, but make it robust enough to handle 2 pound charges of Black Powder with Cannister Shot.
- Engage Blackwater , a properly armed squad with M-60's, M-16's, and their own RPGS
picked up and dropped off outside the authority of the ports
- Arm yourselves and damn the ports: a dozen SKS carbines can be had for less than 150 EU each and secured in a hidden locker.

- Get the *truth* out to the press! Refuse assignments in this region and organize a Sailor's Blockade until the pirates are wiped out. That entire region of Africa is in an unfortunate state of chaos - whilst I feel for the innocent civilians that are affected
the lawlessness will continue as long as it is both profitable and tolerated.

Paying them off is stupid and shortsighted - as Kipling said, "once you pay the Danegeld, you never get rid of the Dane" (no offense to the Dainish)

grumpy old guy
(get off my lawn)

As a military veteran sailor, I certainly endorse attempts at "peaceful" methods; barbed wire to booby-trapped acom ladders to for Pete's sake have acom ladders that can be pulled onboard! We did! As for the talk of "consequences" of resistance if the pirates take the ship, since when does surrender become the #1 option? Do military units lay down their arms in order not to risk the consequences if they are defeated after resisting? This is pure civilian thinking, and defeatist as well. All we are doing is encouraging the pirates by showing them we will always surrender! How can you even call this an approach to defence? Finally, the legal principle of not arming civilian ships simply must be properly rewritten. War has shown us that not arming civilian ships does NOT prevent the enemy from sinking them anyway. Is this crippling level of piracy not a war? Put the necessary guns on ships passing through harm's way together with a military team from the ship's country's navy, and work it out with the ports who resist . If such weapons and naval teams abide by appropriate laws, all involved will see the necessity. DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!

Marc - Thank you for your remarks. Just to be clear though, I'm not endorsing the strategy used on the Zhen Hua. What I agree with is creative thinking and brainstorming. We face a relatively low risk on a fast ship with high sides. My emphasis is on early detection and techniques to delay attackers (extra lookouts, doubled up watches, unmanned fire hoses, locked doors, evasive maneuvers) while keeping the crew safe till help arrives.

1. To John: examining the photos, seeing the particular layout of the accomodation, noticing the fact that the pirates had an RPG, I do not understand they simply did not blast their way in.

2. To capt. Mike: there may be grave consequences if you set up an unsuccesfull defence. This is reflected by the pattern of behaviour of these pirates.

3. To Kenebec captain: Colleague, I wish you the very best of luck on your next passage through the Gulf of Aden. Remember that your "frontier" style of thinking will not work with empty hands.

Marc