Chandlers Yacht back in UK

Sea Devil

Sea Devil

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I have just received the following:-

A yacht belonging to a British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates has been returned to the UK onboard the Royal Navy ship that witnessed their ordeal.
Paul and Rachel Chandler, 59 and 55, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, disappeared on 23 October in the Indian Ocean.
The yacht arrived at

more at:-

http://www.michaelbriant.com/pirates.htm
 
MOD looking for excuses

Bambola said:
I have just received the following:-

A yacht belonging to a British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates has been returned to the UK onboard the Royal Navy ship that witnessed their ordeal.
Paul and Rachel Chandler, 59 and 55, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, disappeared on 23 October in the Indian Ocean.
The yacht arrived at

more at:-

http://www.michaelbriant.com/pirates.htm
Click to expand...

Yeah, the yacht obviously couldn't shoot back, so easily rescued!
 
alant said:
Yeah, the yacht obviously couldn't shoot back, so easily rescued!
Click to expand...

Amazing how many forumites are John Wayne in disguise. Of course cowboys and indians and the OK corral are exactly how it is in the real world....not.
 
EdWingfield said:
Don't be hasty Doris, Alant may have valuable experience of dealing with pirates, he may be able to assist our Navy?
Click to expand...

Take the piss as much as you want, but the facts remain, 2 British subjects are now without hope & under threat of death, because when they thought help was at hand, someone did F-all! How do you think they felt then?

Simply to stand by as a spectator, is to simply condone.

Simply to stand by, breaks every tradition of all Merchant Navies, in assisting those in 'grave & imminent danger', let alone a Government/MOD ship. A ship most people, even if technically incorrect, think of as a naval vessel.

We deserve an explanation, as to why pirates were able to get away with this, who made the decision not to assist and why?

When these prates got back to base, what message did they spread?
-anything grey, bearing a British flag, appears to be as much use as a chocolate teapot, so fill your boots!

"pour encourager-----etc"
 
alant said:
Take the piss as much as you want, but the facts remain, 2 British subjects are now without hope & under threat of death, because when they thought help was at hand, someone did F-all! How do you think they felt then?

Simply to stand by as a spectator, is to simply condone.

Simply to stand by, breaks every tradition of all Merchant Navies, in assisting those in 'grave & imminent danger', let alone a Government/MOD ship. A ship most people, even if technically incorrect, think of as a naval vessel.

We deserve an explanation, as to why pirates were able to get away with this, who made the decision not to assist and why?

When these prates got back to base, what message did they spread?
-anything grey, bearing a British flag, appears to be as much use as a chocolate teapot, so fill your boots!

"pour encourager-----etc"
Click to expand...
Totally agree.

Cheers, Brian.
 
I think like many other nations we do not have the legal power to do anything about it!

In Somalian waters the Somalian nation has the legal right to do whatever it feels is legal. It is their country not ours.

The chief honchos probably have very good connections with the government and pay off those who would object - so what's news?

In international waters international law applies - That's the problem of an internationally POLICTICALLY CORRECT world. Personally I hate it but...

The problem is Somalia - the nation - solve that and pirates go away - suggestions on a postcard please

regards
 
Bambola said:
I think like many other nations we do not have the legal power to do anything about it!

In Somalian waters the Somalian nation has the legal right to do whatever it feels is legal. It is their country not ours.

The chief honchos probably have very good connections with the government and pay off those who would object - so what's news?

In international waters international law applies - That's the problem of an internationally POLICTICALLY CORRECT world. Personally I hate it but...

The problem is Somalia - the nation - solve that and pirates go away - suggestions on a postcard please

regards
Click to expand...

The hijack and the standoff with the the RFA vessel did not take place in Somali waters. They were 100s of miles from the Somali coast.

Those criticizing this unlucky couple for sailing in 'highly dangerous waters' might do well to look at a map.
 
Was a day when trained and experienced people sailing under the white ensign would have gone to the rescue of any boat/ship under the red ensign and in need without question. The only possible excuse that I can see is that they were scared the Chandlers would be hurt but if armed Navy personnel stopped the pirates, a bit of threatening behaviour would probably have secured their release if the oiks were allowed to go free.
 
whipper_snapper said:
The hijack and the standoff with the the RFA vessel did not take place in Somali waters. They were 100s of miles from the Somali coast.

Those criticizing this unlucky couple for sailing in 'highly dangerous waters' might do well to look at a map.
Click to expand...

They were in international waters. International law applies. It was impossible as I understand it to 'rescue' somewhat foolish Brits from people with weapons who might have killed them... Far better to wait for a political solution...

Remember the IRA/Sinn Fein once branded terrorists but now an important part of the government of Ireland. The problem with Somalia is not a few fishermen with automatic weapons rather a country without the rule of law... How do we solve that problem.. answers on a postcard.

I have looked at charts of the area - often - almost everybody knows that the waters around the Seychelles are prone to pirate attacks. This is common knowledge so to sail into them is foolish unless you have no other economic choice.
 
Bambola said:
They were in international waters. International law applies. It was impossible as I understand it to 'rescue' somewhat foolish Brits from people with weapons who might have killed them... Far better to wait for a political solution...

Remember the IRA/Sinn Fein once branded terrorists but now an important part of the government of Ireland. The problem with Somalia is not a few fishermen with automatic weapons rather a country without the rule of law... How do we solve that problem.. answers on a postcard.

I have looked at charts of the area - often - almost everybody knows that the waters around the Seychelles are prone to pirate attacks. This is common knowledge so to sail into them is foolish unless you have no other economic choice.
Click to expand...
It was impossible as I understand it to 'rescue' somewhat foolish Brits from people with weapons who might have killed them... Far better to wait for a political solution...

"It was impossible as I understand it to 'rescue' somewhat foolish Brits from people with weapons who might have killed them... Far better to wait for a political solution... "

What 'special' information, do you have, to state "as I understand it"?
Why is it not available to the rest of us?
 
orbister said:
Trained and experienced people who were actually there made the decision.
Click to expand...

I very much doubt that. The trained and experienced people that were there probably had their hands tied by red tape form Whitehall.

The more we stand by and do nothing for fear of being sued under Human Right Laws the more we'll be taken advantage of.
 
alant said:
Take the piss as much as you want
Click to expand...

I'm not sure he is taking the piss.

It's a perfectly reasonable suggestion.

Why get in touch with the RN and tell them what they should have done?

As long as it's a good workable suggestion they'll bite your hand of for it and (if you're right) could save millions of pounds and possibly one day, a life.
 
alant said:
They should be able to give their reasons then!
Click to expand...

Their was a piece in the Times today quoting some Admiral - saying that the RFA did b#gger all because they could not 100% guarantee the safety of the Chandlers and that inaction was within the ROE (no sh#t :rolleyes:).

Interestingly did not claim that the RFA was not equipped to engage the Pirates. (Unlike many of the Internet Pirate Appeasers :p)...........also did not comment on the fact that the Chandlers are now 100% up sh#t creek without a paddle, but I guess for the RN it is "mission accomplished" as the Chandlers are now SEP.

I rather suspect that phase II of the RN media offensive will involve medals. To be fair, a paper battle is probably more suited to their capabilities :(

RFA = "Rescue F#ck All"? :D
 
whipper_snapper said:
Those criticizing this unlucky couple for sailing in 'highly dangerous waters' might do well to look at a map.
Click to expand...

Somali pirates have been known to operate as much as 1,200NM off the Somali coast (or did you think pirates would stick to territorial waters?).

Failure to inform yourself adequately is no excuse.
So yes, I would say: 'WTF were these people thinking?'

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