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"We're Going To Need A Bigger Boat"
Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute

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Firebrand
06/21/09

In reply to "We're Going To Need A Bigger Boat"
How do the pirates get on board the tanker with "the wall" so high up?

Like this?

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Firebrand
06/21/09

@Firebrand:

Or like this

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Takamofo
06/21/09

@Firebrand: Or like this
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
06/21/09

@Firebrand: They could try this approach:

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Titus_Andronicus
06/21/09

In reply to "We're Going To Need A Bigger Boat"
having been a dock guard on land at this exact scene (exeleon plant for distrigas) i can tell you that the hub-bub around the lng tanker is all smoke and mirrors. a terrorist attack on the lng tanker would not be as devastating as they would have you believe. this liquid is cooled to -400 f and will not explode. if it were attacked and blown up by explosives there would a fair amountof shrapnel so the guys in the coast guard boats, and the land guard at the dock would have a bad day, but the worst case scenario is a rather large fire on the water.
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Stingers
06/21/09

@Titus_Andronicus: -400? Shit, that's like... really cold.

Isn't it awfully inefficient to cool the massive amount of liquid they carry to such a low temp?
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
06/21/09

@Stingers: Uhhhh, most gases, when made into liquid, HAVE to be kept cold, otherwise they revert back to their gaseous state, and/or when released from the tank, achieve that cold. Think about opening a CO2 tank, which is usually liquid CO2, and how cold that is.
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
06/21/09

@Titus_Andronicus: Uhhh, correct me if I am wrong, while yes, the gas itself might not explode, when it reaches the proper Fuel-Air Ratio, which it would if a tank was breached, then it in essence is a huge FAE, and is VERY devestating.
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switchblade saints
06/21/09

In reply to "We're Going To Need A Bigger Boat"
I think the idea is the smaller boats have more maneuverability to scoot around and keep the Tanker from running into things near the harbor etc, not just to ward off pirates, right? I don't know though, I am currently in a landlocked state.

that is a great shot though.
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
06/21/09

@switchblade saints: A boat that small could NEVER keep something that big from running into things. Usually, when near the harbor, the Captain must relinquish control to a "pilot" who brings the ship into port. This guy usually has at least 10+ years experience docking ships in his harbor, so he knows his way. They also have the turbo tugs, which are usually slightly larger than the boat shown, but can stop one of these tankers from going forward.
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IphtashuFitz
06/21/09

@switchblade saints: That boat is a 25 foot "Defender" class USCG utility boat that was designed as a direct response to the 9/11 attacks and the need of the USCG to provide better security in ports. That boat has the ability to mount M60 or M240 machine guns in both the bow or stern and are capable of speeds in excess of 45 knots. See [en.wikipedia.org] for details on it.

The way these LNG tankers are brought into Boston Harbor since 9/11, they create two layers of security around the tanker. The outer ring consists of a combination of various USCG, USCG Auxiliary, Boston Police, etc. boats. The inner ring consists typically of two or more Defenders. From what I understand the outer ring is meant to keep everybody away from the tanker as it traverses the harbor. They'll shoo anybody in the path of the tanker away and make sure nobody gets too close in back or alongside the tanker. If a boat ignores the outer security ring and makes an effort to encroach on the tanker for any reason whatsoever the Defenders have the authority to shoot them out of the water.
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
06/21/09

@IphtashuFitz: Wouldn't it be "Shoot them UNDER the water"?
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yoshi
01/10/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
Starring KEVEN BACON!
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Curves
01/10/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
Why ask NATO for protection, no one is afraid of them. Ask the people in the protection business, The Mob, then pity the fool pirates who take the next ship, because they will be dead. And so will their brother. And so will his dog. And so will his dogs mother. And so will... (you get the picture).
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Jesse in Japan
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
That would be cool if they had a transponder in it, like in No Country for Old Men.
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Barry99705
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
Seems to me a precision strike to the bridge could end this quite quick, and send a message to other pirates. Blowing the shit out of the bridge shouldn't hurt the oil too much.
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Kaiser-Machead
01/09/09

@Barry99705: lol...that would be up to the Saudi government I guess.
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
01/09/09

@Barry99705: Or just give them some blankets with the money. Of course, you dunk the blankets in smallpox first.
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Kaiser-Machead
01/10/09

@PalmPre_GitEmSteveDave: You Custer-loving son of an onion! Brilliant!
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Oldbrass
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
I still don't get why these ships don't carry heavily armed security. Seems like one deck mounted AAA gun would pretty much take these Mad Max style pirates out of action. Jeeze, Seems like just a couple of guys with 50 cals on the bridge wings could do the job of keeping these asses away from the shipping.
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
01/09/09

@Oldbrass: B/c different countries have different laws. Some don't allow weapons in their country. The other reason is pretty obvious:

Most things in here don't react too well to bullets.
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Kaiser-Machead
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
The big shipping concerns have already been asking for NATO support so that they can have armed escorts. The problem is that it's tough to get NATO to give a helping hand for this sort of thing, and at the same time, giving the coast a much wider berth significantly increases shipping time, fuel and supplies, thus raising the prices of whatever it is they're shipping.

As for going in to kill Somali pirates...it's easier to pay 3 million, than to risk several more million on valuable cargo, and of course, the very valuable ship.
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Kaiser-Machead
01/09/09

@Kaiser-Machead: Oh, and the captive crew, of course.
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TommySez
01/09/09

@Kaiser-Machead: Oh, I'm sure the crew is high on their list. Just below the furnishing.
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Kaiser-Machead
01/09/09

@TommySez: And the freeze-dried snacks.
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ZLevee
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
Crime does pay!
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akashhhhh
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
I don't understand, are they just going to....leave now?
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Kaiser-Machead
01/09/09

@akashhhhh: That's how a ransom works lol.
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frigg
01/09/09

@akashhhhh: From what I understand, the Pirates plan to invest the ransom in Madoff Investment Corp, buy an apartment on NY's Upper East Side, and spend more time with their families, the opera, and fundraising for the ASPCA.
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OMG! Ponies!
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
Somali pirates misallocated TARP funds.
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dimadelux
01/09/09

In reply to Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute
they should have parachuted some C4 which explodes upon opening
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uncdomination
01/09/09

Well let's see since it is an OIL tanker it would blow up! Don't we feel stupid now
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Sixxtwo
01/09/09

@uncdomination: if you think a few pounds of C4 is going to blow up that tanker.....read your last sentence.
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Hello Mister Walrus
01/09/09

@Sixxtwo: Hmm, even if the tanker doesn't blow up, if the tanks are breached, tons of oil would be spilled into the sea.
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Photo: $3 Million Tanker Ransom Delivered to Pirates by Parachute

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