Hijacked Oil tanker

[DrPepper]

Sirius Star is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked,
with a cargo of 2m barrels - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's
daily output - worth more than $100m.

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Hijacked oil tanker nears Somalia

How come this tanker was not protected?

[Kebabhead]

Originally Posted by DrPepper

How come this tanker was not protected?

We haven't invaded Somalia yet !

[Iccz]

It was not in what is seen as notoriously dangerous waters.
Also it is not the kind of good that is a major issue. It's only crude oil... sure it's a lot, and the oil company are gonna be gutted, but it's not a justification for any troops to get involved with it yet.
The crew are safe and not in danger...

The Ukrainian tanker with weapons and tanks however is a concern as them goods in the wrong hands are more of a problem.

[Wild Weasel]

How come this tanker was not protected?

Because Liberia doesn't have a navy.

[PJTX100]

I've got a feeling in future they will be protected.

Just a thought. From what I've read there are British / US Navy vessels patroling the waters in this area. Are there similar from gulf states such as saudi arabia? Perhaps they should invest a little of their wealth in this "common cause"?

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by Iccz

It's only crude oil... ,.... but it's not a justification for any troops to get involved with it yet.

Now really, what kind of talk is that? Not sending our troops in because its oil?

[Earthworm Jim]

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

How come this tanker was not protected?

Because Liberia doesn't have a navy.

what does liberia have to do with anything, thats on the west coast of africa, this happened on the east

[Iccz]

NATO has a small presence along with a few USA warships, Russia are off Somalia and everyone fears them but they would likely not come to the aid of a Saudi ship without a deposit.

Originally Posted by johntheexpat

Now really, what kind of talk is that? Not sending our troops in because its oil?

Everyone knows you don't shoot it out on a crude carrier...
Money will have to be paid. The Somali pirates are usually pretty good at getting their goods and letting everyone go.
They're not interested in the oil or prisoners, just the ransom.
There is no need for military to get involved.

Insurers have been warning that their policies were not in effect in certain high piracy areas or increasing the premium for traveling through them. Some companies take their chances in those areas anyway for cost saving reasons. If a big oil company wants protection then they can afford their own protection.

The Saudis will pay the ransom and all will work out fine, they'll get their oil back and the people will go away unharmed.

[IronGiant]

Originally Posted by jimthelegend

what does liberia have to do with anything, thats on the west coast of africa, this happened on the east

The Liberian-registered Sirius Star had been heading for the United States via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa...

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by IronGiant

The Liberian-registered Sirius Star had been heading for the United States via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa...

Is there not some "scam" where by major coperations register there ships to backwater countries to avoid regulations and or taxes?

what ever it offers coperations 10% of the worlds ships are registered there

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberian_Companies

[Sonic67]

Guidance & Regulations

6.15 Firearms

6.15.1 The carrying and use of firearms for personal protection or protection of a ship is strongly discouraged and will not be authorised by the British Government. Carriage of arms on board ship may escalate an already dangerous situation, and any firearms on board may themselves become an attractive target for an attacker. The use of firearms requires special training and aptitudes and the risk of accidents with firearms carried on board ship is great. In some jurisdictions killing a national may have unforeseen consequences even for a person who believes that they have acted in self-defence.

9.2 Naval Intervention

9.2.1 International law requires any warship or other government ship to repress piracy on the high seas. Such ships would be expected to take action if they encountered pirates, or come to the aid of any ship under attack by pirates, on the high seas. A naval ship of any State can pursue pirates on the high seas, but not into the territorial waters of another State without that State's prior consent.

9.2.2 Foreign naval ships on innocent passage within the territorial waters of another State cannot exercise any enforcement powers or pursue attackers without prior authorisation from the Coastal State. However, they may render humanitarian assistance to a ship in danger or distress.

9.2.3 Royal Navy ships will take all appropriate measures to respond to incidents of piracy on the high seas, and to provide humanitarian assistance to ships attacked in territorial waters, whenever they are on hand to do so. However, the likelihood of a Royal Navy ship being nearby when an incident occurs, particularly in distant waters, will not be great. British ships will therefore, need to rely on their own vigilance and resources to prevent attacks and on the capability of Coastal States to suppress piracy or armed robbery.

As for our navy, we are down to 6 type 45's being bought down from 12 initially planned and the type 42's being taken out of service early.

[nikonkid]

I wonder how they managed to stop or slow down the tanker. Something that big takes some stopping. How did they actually get on board,Im pretty sure they were not rowing likes blazes in a rubber dingy. I can just image it.....

Oi big boy slow down I keel you infadel i kill you,you no stop.

[Sonic67]

HMS Cumberland has been involved elsewhere:

BBC NEWS | England | Devon | Warship's firefight with pirates

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by nikonkid

I wonder how they managed to stop or slow down the tanker. Something that big takes some stopping. How did they actually get on board,Im pretty sure they were not rowing likes blazes in a rubber dingy. I can just image it.....

Oi big boy slow down I keel you infadel i kill you,you no stop.

I too was wondering how on earth you get on to a moving ship when the decks 40 (?) foot from the water?

[Wild Weasel]

Originally Posted by eric pisch

I too was wondering how on earth you get on to a moving ship when the decks 40 (?) foot from the water?

Using grappling hooks and ropes. Arrr!