We are learning more about the hijacked SV Quest, seized by pirates off Oman last Friday. The sailing yacht, reportedly with Americans Scott and Jean Adam, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle aboard, had been sailing with the Oz-Med section of the Blue Water Rally. The Blue Water Rallies are groups of cruising boas which travel together around the world for mutual support. From the Blue Water Rally website:
The Blue Water Rally is very distressed to learn of the hijacking of SV Quest on 18th February. Scott and Jean Adam joined the Oz-Med section of the Blue Water Rally just before Christmas and had been sailing with the rally from Phuket as far as Mumbai. Quest had taken on board two well known rally participants: Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle. However, Quest chose to take an independent route from Mumbai to Salalah, leaving the Rally on 15 February.
CNN is reporting that a US Navy warship is trailing the hijacked yacht.
U.S. Navy trailing boat believed to hold hijacked Americans
A U.S. Navy warship and helicopters are trailing a boat believed to be the one that was hijacked by Somali pirates over the weekend, a senior military source with knowledge of the operation told CNN. Four Americans were manning the boat.
Pirates boarded the American yacht off the coast of Oman last Friday, three days after the boat’s owners split off from the relative safety of a sailing group traversing a dangerous section of the Indian Ocean, according to the group, the Blue Water Rally.
Thanks to Phil Irwin for passing the information along.
I don’t understand how the strongest military in the world, with the 5th Fleet in the area, is powerless against these thugs. Just carpet bomb that nasty sandbox of Somalia and get it over with already. Seriously, the only way the world would know that Somalia ceased to exist is that terrorism would decrease. What else does that country contribute to the world?
Yes well if your C-in-C doesn’t have what it takes to lead the lads what can you expect. As a former SecDef just said all he does is apoligise for America.
Good Watch.
Unfortunately carpet bombing would have a tragic outcome for the over 800 mariners currently held hostage. Bombing is often overrated. The last time the US attempted to use “shock and awe,” did not work out as planned. Likewise our efforts on shore in Somalia have turned out badly.
The simplest answer is to arrest and try the pirates instead of letting them go. All that is lacking the political will. The US, Germany and the Dutch have tried a handful of pirates, but most have been let go to return to piracy.
The “strongest military in the world” is hamstrung by lawyers (JAG). The proper response by the CO of USS Sterret, is having the Somali pirates walk the plank (Yes, they still have planks on US Navy ships). If that way of processing pirates was good enough for Pres Jefferson in the 19th century, it should be good enough for Pres Obama in the 21st century.
Another way of handling piracy in the Indian Ocean is to establish a “free fire” zone outside of a 12 mile distance from the coast. If a “fishing” boat breaches that line, the boat becomes a target, no questions asked.
In the same process, the Somali Coast Guard is developed so they can pursue and prosecute illegal factory fishing so maritime resources are available for the Somalis.
But I could be wrong.
CWO3, USN, (Ret)
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