[Knight Templar]

What does shariah law say about stealing?

It doesn't - not when you're stealing from the West et al. The Sharia in practice, is the law as dictated by religiously based political regimes internally, as a code of conduct regarding their own people. In this context it doesn't apply to interactions with people the extremist Muslim world sees as essentially class enemies. There's also no need to uphold any sort of mutual respect toward the Sharia, as most people found on the opposite side of it are either A) not Muslim, and thus unworthy of it from a black & white point of view, or B) aiding those who are enemies of Islam, which leads to the former.

[StarSlayer]

I'm surprised they don't start using convoys, a lot easier to tag a tin can to protect the sheep if they're in a herd.  Trying to chase motor boats all over the bloody coast with a handful of warships will be a fools errand.  Plop one of those helicopter assault ships the Corps uses and have Whiskey Cobras chase them down and frag them.  It same strategy that broke the back of the Kiegsmarine Wolf Packs in WW2, convoys and escort carriers to provide air cover. 

[redsniper]

Or why don't the shipping companies just hire a few mercenaries to defend their boats? Would it not be worth it to hire a couple guys with rifles to pick off any incoming pirates?

[IceFire]

I'm surprised they don't start using convoys, a lot easier to tag a tin can to protect the sheep if they're in a herd.  Trying to chase motor boats all over the bloody coast with a handful of warships will be a fools errand.  Plop one of those helicopter assault ships the Corps uses and have Whiskey Cobras chase them down and frag them.  It same strategy that broke the back of the Kiegsmarine Wolf Packs in WW2, convoys and escort carriers to provide air cover. 

I think they should one up that. Send in a full carrier battlegroup.  Do what a CVBG does best and project some serious firepower in the region.  Get approval from the UN to engage pirate targets under some sort of proper rules of engagement and make it happen.  A ship gets in trouble and a pair of Super Hornets are all over it in minutes with AWACs and Sea Hawk support.

Just a thought.

[chief1983]

They've been afraid that putting armed guards on the boats would put the civilians at risk.  Up til now, any hostages have been fairly well cared for, and released upon receipt of payment from the shipping company.  So, since lives weren't necessarily at risk, putting them in danger didn't seem like a good idea.  That's why I like decoys, no civilians in the way.  Just a boat full of whoopass.

[Nuke]

Or why don't the shipping companies just hire a few mercenaries to defend their boats? Would it not be worth it to hire a couple guys with rifles to pick off any incoming pirates?

isnt that kind of illegal under maritime law

[chief1983]

Strictly speaking, I'm pretty sure that killing pirates isn't illegal, but not sure about the hiring mercenaries.  They could work it around on the books though.  Just list them as 'guides'.

[Nuke]

well i kinda thought i was illegal for crews of civillian ships to carry weapons. killing pirates probibly isnt illegal, so long as you use something other than a firearm in the process.

[Kosh]

Convoys guys, thats the way to go if you aren't willing to throw too many ships at the problem. If it can beat state of the art u-boats (for their time) then it can beat htese guys.

[NGTM-1R]

I think they should one up that. Send in a full carrier battlegroup.  Do what a CVBG does best and project some serious firepower in the region.  Get approval from the UN to engage pirate targets under some sort of proper rules of engagement and make it happen.  A ship gets in trouble and a pair of Super Hornets are all over it in minutes with AWACs and Sea Hawk support.

Just a thought.

Continous close escort via aircraft would be possible with a CVBG, but very fuel-expensive. Convoying is simply not practical as too many nations would not allow ships with their flag to be convoyed by warships of major Western nations.

On the other hand, this is exactly the sort of situation that the P-3 was designed for, but we sent most of them to the boneyard. Damn.

[Herra Tohtori]

Build a high barbed wire fence around the sides of the ships?

If nothing else it would at least make it a bit more difficult and slower for the pirates to board the ship.

[Dilmah G]

Build a high barbed wire fence around the sides of the ships?

If nothing else it would at least make it a bit more difficult and slower for the pirates to board the ship.

How do people get out? In the event of an emergency, life rafts would be little use, and for clumsy crane operators....

[Herra Tohtori]

Either catapults or ejection seats.

I vote for catapults, since they could be used to fling stuff at the pirates too.

[TrashMan]

Or why don't the shipping companies just hire a few mercenaries to defend their boats? Would it not be worth it to hire a couple guys with rifles to pick off any incoming pirates?

isnt that kind of illegal under maritime law

Who cares? Nuke the pirates!

[Dilmah G]

Either catapults or ejection seats.

I vote for catapults, since they could be used to fling stuff at the pirates too.

Or sortie aircraft.....as the British Merchant Navy learned

[Turambar]

I propose that merchant ships contract ninjas, to combat the pirate threat.

[Demitri]

Pirates vs Ninjas. Now thats something I'd pay good money to see! 

[MP-Ryan]

Pirates vs Ninjas. Now thats something I'd pay good money to see! 

Pirates have wenches.  Ninjas don't.  Pirates win.  Next scenario.

[The E]

Oh no...

Ninjas had every wench in existence. They just don't brag about it all day.

[General Battuta]

Ninjas? What ninjas? There aren't any ninjas.

I mean, do you see any ninjas?