Pirates

While I was on the freighter we heard about the news that the pirates had captured four more ships in the Indian sea. The crew and officers were very concerned in general about piracy, I asked them about it and they said it was a huge worry for ships passing near Somalia. It used to be that if you were 200 miles off the coast or further, that was ok, but these days the pirates are going up to 400 miles off the coast. The Ukrainian navigator seemed to think that the best way for ships to function now was to have guns on board and to train the crew in their use. Some of the officers were worried though that it would be much more dangerous on board then if someone decides to go crazy. No simple solution I guess, but it is unlikely that anyone is going to fix Somalia any time soon, so ships will start having to do something.

I also got to spend some time in the same type of lifeboat that the captain on the American ship was in with the pirates when they took him hostage. The lifeboats are fully equipped with a small electric powered engine, food supplies, water, medical supplies and fishing gear. I wouldn't want to be stuck in one for too long though, there really is not much space in them at all.