4 poor, technologically challenged Somalians were able to board a ship this big?
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Doodlebuger — 11 years ago(May 02, 2014 02:36 AM)
The crew never had a chance to get anywhere close to the ladder, and the pirates are not all on the ladder at the same time and can always shoot. Anyway, it happened and merchant ships are not gunships.
Business tries to avoid anything military looking until they are forced (reluctantly) to use armed protection. This goes for merchant ships in dangerous waters, oil rigs in Nigeria, etc.
And btw, these SOmali pirates are fierce fighters, not technologically challenged at all ! Certainly quite proficient with their Kalachnikovs. -
mwmtampa — 11 years ago(August 30, 2014 08:10 PM)
I will repeat my comments also despite all the protests to the contrary. They mentioned at the beginning of the movie that there were acts of piracy that had taken place already. For them to head into these waters knowing that, and not being armed and prepared, is really lame, foolish, and preposterous.
I also agree with the posters who stated they could have prevented the pirates from boarding the ship by dislodging their hooks, or conking them as they tried to board. Why did the crew just accept their boarding attempt? And not repel them? Quite preposterous. -
callumfaulkner — 11 years ago(April 16, 2014 02:08 AM)
Sorry can't see how to add a new comment so I'll just reply to mt OP.
But just so everyone knows, yes I'm aware this is based on a real event - I'm not mentally challenged like most of the people here.
What I am questioning is the audacity that in this day and age with all our technology, (supposed) intelligence, and weaponry; that four god damn poor and technologically inept Somalians can take over a ship that big.
This is undeniably just horrendous foresight/ planning and most likely some stupid political beep preventing weapons/ better defense systems for these ships.
Oh and the movie was still an over-dramatized piece of crap used to milk your sympathy and guilt you into liking it (see the piss poor opening conversation (dialogue) between the Captain and his wife). -
DorkoTheDorkLord — 11 years ago(April 16, 2014 10:35 AM)
Politics is part of it, as a lot of countries don't like the idea of armed foreign ships coming in and out their ports (can't imagine why). Cost is another part, since it would mean different insurance and permits and training. A final one isthere's just nothing on those ships (in general) worth dying for. Being able to get into a gunfight with the pirates, people who are dirt poor and looking at (potentially) multi-million paydays from a successful hijacking, won't make them
less
dangerous. -
cribera-1 — 11 years ago(May 04, 2014 10:16 PM)
I mean, they were US soldiers aboard, or did I understand wrong such part?
If the cargo+ship is worth millions of U$, how come INSURANCE COMPANIES won't demand such BASIC security (2 to 4 well armed men, even with at least a missile launcher, apart from machine guns, mercenaries on the payroll of the ship's company or the insurance company), to be able to have the ship insured? -
Wiccaman — 11 years ago(May 05, 2014 11:53 AM)
Until relatively recently insurance companies were quire reluctant to encourage armed guards. They believed that the consequences of a firefight would be more costly than the cost of a boarding (this was in the days that pirates just tended to nick money and easily transportable valuables than the ship itself).
Now though they do offer a bit of a discount on the premium if there is
trained
security on board. It's normally around 25% for non armed guards and 50% for armed guards.
This is just for bulk cargo carriers carrying inert goods though. They still don't like armed guards on petroleum and chemical carriers because of the fire/explosion risk. -
r_freeman — 11 years ago(April 20, 2014 04:46 AM)
I found it frustrating watching the crew do nothing until it was too late and they were aboard. The film bored me throughout, and I can't understand why it's rated so highly.
- Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has them, and they normally stink.
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Galactus03 — 11 years ago(May 03, 2014 07:49 PM)
with everything you said.plus the movie just plain stunk.based on true events or not it really wasnt that dramatic of a story for the big screen. TV film perhaps but not a major motion picture. Also did you notice how much more exciting the poster for the film made the boarding of the ship look. Lol
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estocade — 11 years ago(June 07, 2014 02:25 PM)
I don't care how feeble is the person, if he's pointing ak47 at me, and there were several of them.
However, it was stupid, how vulnerable they were against the pirates. At least they could've had a panic room.
But like Hanks said in the beginning they (bosses) want everything done cheap.
On the other hand that rescue mission was pretty costly I bet.
It comes down to who pays in the end.
The money, it's all about the money.
Pathetic businessmen on both sides. -
nextstopvegas — 11 years ago(July 25, 2014 02:48 PM)
OP is correct. It is ridiculous.
And in response to the lame 'it actually happened so there' - just because it happened doesn't mean it still isn't totally ridiculous.
Plenty of things happen in real life that make us all say WTF. The reason security is beefed up on these vessels now is precisely because this incident was so stupid. -
mematron — 11 years ago(September 15, 2014 12:56 AM)
Yeah, it's just as absurd as some guys hiJacking a plane with just mace and knives and using it as a missile to take down a high-rise building.
You are going to see, hear and experience many things that seem impossible and improbable before you turn to dust.
Hell, I was 8 years old, living in San Diego, California when I saw a falling out of the sky. At the time it was the deadliest plane crash in aviation history.
I've seen and experienced many more things that seen unreal. This planet is cool but it's also messed up.
My YouTube Show: https://www.youtube.com/user/demodular -
MyDarkStar — 11 years ago(October 27, 2014 06:28 AM)
I totally agree with the OP. I can't believe that this happened. You set off on a ship with millions of dollars of cargo & $30k in cash in waters that are KNOWINGLY DANGEROUS without a gun ?!?! That's just plain stupid. There's no other way to put it.
I never would have taken off on that ship without a handgun at the very very least. More than likely I would have had a rifle with a huge scope on it which I could have used to pick off the pirates on their little dinky boat one by one.