Peter Stapleton on taking a stand against pirates

[ChattingLil]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pxll6

Just listened to a brilliant short programme on R4: Fergal Keane talking to Peter Stapleton on "taking a stand".

"Fergal Keane talks to people who have taken risks and made sacrifices to stand up for what they believe in.

How does it feel to come under armed attack by Somali pirates when you know you are days away from any kind of protection? Peter Stapleton knows. He was master of the cargo ship Boularibank when it was targeted by pirates at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden. Aside from cargo and crew, he was also carrying eleven passengers, including his wife. Peter Stapleton tells Fergal Keane how he managed to repel the boarders."


Well worth a 'listen again'.

 

[Searush]

The Russian Navy captured the pirates after they were driven off, threw all their weapons over the side, took the pirates off & sank their vessel.

"That's the way to do it!" as Punch might say.

 

[webcraft]

.
I liked the idea of suspending heavy baulks of timber over the side and releasing them directly in front of the 'assault craft'

'Official' policy sounded unusually sensible - resist as long as possible but capitulate instantly and totally as soon as injuries happen or become inevitable.

- W

 

[whipper_snapper]

I liked the idea of suspending heavy baulks of timber over the side and releasing them directly in front of the 'assault craft'

But it all seems very ad hoc. Last time I drove over the causeway in Mombasa I saw what I assume to be a ship testing an anti piracy device. It was pumping tons of water over the side down whole length of one side. There must have been huge pumps with huge inlets somewhere. I imagine that would be pretty effective, it would certainly swamp an open boat instantly, but I wonder how long they could keep it going and how long it takes to start up.

 

[armchairsailor]

Eccles - How do you repel boarders?

Bloodnock - Stop changing the bed linen!



Apologies to S Milligan et al.

 

[reginaldon]

Eccles - How do you repel boarders?

Bloodnock - Stop changing the bed linen!



Apologies to S Milligan et al.

Another old stager obviously!

 

[armchairsailor]

Nah, just a misspent youth listening to my Dad's Goons & Tom Lehrer records

 

[TradewindSailor]

But it all seems very ad hoc. Last time I drove over the causeway in Mombasa I saw what I assume to be a ship testing an anti piracy device. It was pumping tons of water over the side down whole length of one side. There must have been huge pumps with huge inlets somewhere. I imagine that would be pretty effective, it would certainly swamp an open boat instantly, but I wonder how long they could keep it going and how long it takes to start up.

Probably not long at all. It probably uses the ballasting pumps .... just need to be re-routed. I've often pondered the idea of a water cannon to upset jet-skiers that get too close and buzz through the moorings/anchorage at 30 kts.

 

[prv]

Last time I drove over the causeway in Mombasa I saw what I assume to be a ship testing an anti piracy device. It was pumping tons of water over the side down whole length of one side. There must have been huge pumps with huge inlets somewhere. I imagine that would be pretty effective, it would certainly swamp an open boat instantly, but I wonder how long they could keep it going and how long it takes to start up.

I think using the fire pumps is a fairly standard approach. Keep going indefinitely as long as there's an engine (probably a generator) running; starting them would be quick but you would have to have laid out the hoses in advance.

Pete

 

[whipper_snapper]

I think using the fire pumps is a fairly standard approach. Keep going indefinitely as long as there's an engine (probably a generator) running; starting them would be quick but you would have to have laid out the hoses in advance.

Pete

This was WAY more than fire pumps. This was a massive cascade of water pouring off the ship down its entire length. WAY WAY beyond the capacity of 'laid out hose'. I doubt ships have standard pumps with that kind of capacity.

 

[fisherman]

Local ex MN wrote about anchoring in an ill advised place on the coast of China in the fifties. Attacks were commonplace, and the accommodation was fenced off from the deck. They used to keep any old engine room scrap handy to drop in the boats, break bottles on the deck, as the pirates would be barefoot, and arm themselves: he recounts having sent one to meet his maker with, I think, a valve handle through him.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Enjoyed the program very much,thanks to the original poster for the tip

 

[jetwake]

In WW1 there was a superb device created: a tank / armoured car which, at the flick of a switch, would shove hundreds of volts through its hull. The crew were safe inside, but anyone outside touching the hull would not be so describable for long.

Hmmm, might not work for bulk gas carriers...boooooMMMMMMMMMM

D