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April 16th, 2009
07:07 PM ET

Repelling pirates

CNN's John Zarrella reports on what ship crews are being taught to defend themselves against pirate attacks.
Filed under: 360° Radar
soundoff (10 Responses)
  1. diane

    Re Piracy in Somalia:

    When will you stop scapegoating young men, boys in some cases, with no jobs and no future in a lawless country, and look at what's behind it, whether it's their own opportunistic piracy bosses or impacts and actions, or inactions, of the international community?

    What a stark contrast to your piece on recruitment of "kids" in America into the Mexian drug cartel busines! What a double standard!

    April 16, 2009 at 10:36 pm |
  2. Mike Deist

    Seems obvious that the solution is to put two Blackwater Inc. armed mercenaries on each ship that have weapons that can take out any approaching ship. Fire one warning shot near the bow of any unsolicited approaching ship followed by a weapon to sink the ship if it doesn't turn around. It is the Archie Bunker solution. Don't want any robberies on a bus? Give everyone on the bus a gun.

    April 16, 2009 at 10:31 pm |
  3. Godfrey Githinji

    I haven't heard any mention of the legitimate fishermen out there who will definitely be mistaken for pirates when any nation or nations decide to take a really pro-active approach in keeping the real pirates at bay. When we start talking about pt boats running with no guidance i.e under no international laws (just as the pirates are running in international waters) then it will not be long before genuine and law-abiding fishermen become targets of anti-piracy efforts. Remember that the boats being used by the pirates are the same boats used by fishermen.

    April 16, 2009 at 9:22 pm |
  4. JoAnn L.

    Anderson, my family is in the shipping industry. Are Capt Phillips & crew compensated for unplanned time off including FBI/corporate debriefing, time w/family & decompression? Customarily when mariners are not sailing they make no money.

    April 16, 2009 at 9:04 pm |
  5. Joe G. (Illinois)

    Instead of cross training Air Federali Marshals to sit on boats rather than airplanes, let’s keep doing interviews and commentaries.. Who cares about response time.. If the people in the boats want us to save them, then they ought to be flexible and allow us the time to show the world our might and swift military resolve…

    April 16, 2009 at 8:50 pm |
  6. Shahab

    My opinion when it comes to piracy in Somalia is that we must strike at the pirates militarily. We should remember that Thomas Jefferson, the president who stressed the value of peace and liberty. He had a pirate problem and struck back militarily. Let us follow the example of this great president.

    April 16, 2009 at 8:40 pm |
  7. anthony harris

    a way to halt the pirates is to recommission some pt-boats, they are agile, fast and fully armed to out run, out gun and kill the pirates, this will free up the war ships, when they are trying to board a ship, the pt boats can reach the area in a short time as it may take a war ship a day or more, flood the area with these boats, being that commercial ship cant carry arms, these pt boats do and can enter ports, now being in the open international waters, they, the pirates operate under no law, so like wise for the pt boats, if most countries would contribute to the boats operation this will reduce the burden on the USA and France, the ransom money alone can be enough to operate these pt boats for several months, one thing these pirates understand is nothing, well give them something to really think about before they leave their ports and have to deal with an international armada of pt boats to protect the shipping lanes, if we were able to repel the attacks just by the pt boats show of force this will reduce the amount of kidnappings,ransom and deaths of innocent people, our present are looking for want to halt the attacks, i do believe this is one of the beat alternatives, thanks for reading my input ...............fortyfive863

    April 16, 2009 at 8:17 pm |
  8. Annie Kate

    Convoys with armed guards aboard each ship with permission to fire on someone trying to come aboard without permission might help with this. All nations should help come up with a plan that all could use to combat the pirates.

    April 16, 2009 at 8:17 pm |
  9. Delane Bro

    Would it not be in the best interest of the shipping lines, to organize themselves into convoys in specific shipping lanes, then get some additional support from one of the many countrys who are patroling this area?

    April 16, 2009 at 7:57 pm |
  10. Bryon

    Pirates have there reasons for doing what they do however it's to a point where this pirate thingis starting to get out of control if it hasn't already. I have zero sympathy, and I feel if they are not killed they should put in jail for at least 15 years.

    April 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm |
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