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Singapore to join anti-piracy efforts in Gulf of Aden


Sleepyman
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By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 February 2009 1322 hrs

 

SINGAPORE: Singapore will be joining the international community with its anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden.

 

Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament on Thursday that Singapore will be deploying a Landing Ship Tank, with two Super Puma helicopters for a period of three months this year.

The ship will work with the newly-formed multi-national Combined Task Force 151 to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden.

 

The LST will be deployed once the operational arrangements have been made.

 

Minister Teo explained that Singapore's involvement is because as a maritime nation, the country shares the concerns of the international community regarding piracy.

 

It is also committed to supporting international efforts to keep the sea lanes safe and secure.

 

He stressed that it is not possible for any country, including Singapore, to protect its own shipping in all the key sea lanes of the world.

 

Hence all countries have to depend on international cooperation to secure the sea lanes for everyone's use and that means littoral states, user states, and the international community have a role to play.

 

Minister Teo said there was an upsurge of piracy attacks recently in the Gulf of Aden.

 

In the past year, over 100 ships have been attacked by pirates, who have raked in an estimated ransom of US$120 million.

 

And in recent months, NATO, the European Union, the US, as well as countries such as China, India, Malaysia and Russia, have contributed to anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden.

 

Other countries, including Japan and Turkey, have announced their intention to send naval vessels.

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just wondering I wonder how much ransom Govt will pay when the RSN ship eventually gets hijacked... [lipsrsealed]

 

I personally applaud the decision by the Govt to send our naval ships out there.

 

You just do not know how much difficulty this is causing the shipping community....

 

 

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just wondering I wonder how much ransom Govt will pay when the RSN ship eventually gets hijacked... [lipsrsealed]

 

That is why I ask whether we are going to engage captain Jack Sparrow to lead......[laugh] just joking.

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Wah...this is a good chance for SAF to fire at REAL target and get REAL experience.

Will be interesting, as the pirates will not follow Geneva COnvention or Fighting rules, this is a real test of SAF skills and capabilities!

 

GO GO GO SAF!

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situation there has calmed down long ago.

 

Calmed down????/ I just got this...

 

REGION: Gulf of Aden

DATE ISSUED: 12 Feb 2009

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Press Release on Pirates Apprehended in the Gulf of Aden

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

3 or 4 days ago, a gas carrier got hijacked.... off Socotra....

 

U wanna know more????

Edited by KapitanE
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How do these pirates manage to chase and board a giant ship with their sampans?

 

The pirate skiff are running at about 18-19 knots.... ships that are slower, for example bulkers, tankers, going at 14 knots are the prime targets. These ships when fully loaded have a freeboard of about 3 metres, some are even lower....

 

Some group of pirates uses a rigid ladder and hook on to the side to climb.... another group uses ropes and grappling hooks.

 

These pirates are not just some fishermen tired of fishing and out to make a quick buck. They are a well organised group of people, with connections to the Western world, armed to the teeth with weapons, including satelitte phones. They also have access to tracking information.

 

Remember the saudi supertanker, the ship was hijack some 400 miles off shore. How did a sampan get out there?? On the big wide ocean, knowing exactly where a ship is by people coming from a village??? Those who have been out to sea will know how it is like, visible range with naked eye at sea, when you are sitting low on the water will be probably 5 nautical miles..... how they spotted the super tanker on a big wide ocean... you need more sophisticated methods then trial and error.

 

The pirates have boasted that they had invested US1 million to hijack the saudi tanker.....

Edited by KapitanE
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Wow ...

 

060706-modern-pirates_big.jpg

 

 

 

A cruise liner recently managed to outrun the pirates right?

 

Btw, are small firearms allowed on cargo ships for self defense?

 

Or is it "good game" if the pirates manage to board? [sweatdrop]

 

 

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Nice "lumpa" avatar btw.

 

Dude, your signature is kinda inappropriate.

 

You wanna turn it into an avatar? I think some forumers may be offended when they see your signature plasted everywhere in threads you post in.

 

Just a suggestion.

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