Somali pirates seize yacht with four Americans onboard
- Thread starter mlachance
- Start date
Reality Fluno
Member
Boat website: www.svquest.com
— An American couple sailing across the Indian Ocean in a small yacht was captured by Somali pirates on Friday, maritime officials in East Africa said, and the pirates appeared to be taking the Americans back to the Somali shore.
The yacht’s owners, Jean and Scott Adam, have been cruising around the world for more than six years, from New Zealand to Tahiti to the Galapagos to Hawaii, China and India. In one of their last posts on their Web site, they said they were leaving Mumbai for Oman, and then sailing onwards to Djibouti, passing through pirate-infested waters where there have been an increasing number of hijackings in recent months.
“Djibouti is a big refueling stop,” wrote Mrs. Adam, a retired dentist. “I have NO idea what will happen in these ports, but perhaps we’ll do some local touring.”
On Friday, while they were about 275 miles from the coast of Oman, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the pirates struck, according to Andrew Mwangura, the maritime editor of Somalia Report, an online news source that closely tracks piracy attacks.
“They put out an SOS,” he said. “The timing was bad. The pirates just intercepted them.”
According to Mr. Mwangura and the East Africa-based Ecoterra International, which also monitors piracy attacks, there were four people on board the Adams’ boat, called the S/V Quest. According to the Adams’ Web site, the Quest is a Davidson 58 Pilot House Sloop, which has been the Adams’ home since they started an around-the-world trip in 2004.
Somalia’s pirates are getting increasingly bold — and vicious. Several hostages have been beaten and at least one was recently killed and some hostages have even been forced at gunpoint to accompany pirates on raids. Despite an enormous naval presence, with some of the world’s most powerful navies patrolling Somalia’s seas with dozens of warships, the pirates continue to strike with impunity. Dozens of vessels have been seized in the past year and ransoms have shot up from a few hundred thousand dollars to now typically $4 or $5 million.
— An American couple sailing across the Indian Ocean in a small yacht was captured by Somali pirates on Friday, maritime officials in East Africa said, and the pirates appeared to be taking the Americans back to the Somali shore.
The yacht’s owners, Jean and Scott Adam, have been cruising around the world for more than six years, from New Zealand to Tahiti to the Galapagos to Hawaii, China and India. In one of their last posts on their Web site, they said they were leaving Mumbai for Oman, and then sailing onwards to Djibouti, passing through pirate-infested waters where there have been an increasing number of hijackings in recent months.
“Djibouti is a big refueling stop,” wrote Mrs. Adam, a retired dentist. “I have NO idea what will happen in these ports, but perhaps we’ll do some local touring.”
On Friday, while they were about 275 miles from the coast of Oman, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the pirates struck, according to Andrew Mwangura, the maritime editor of Somalia Report, an online news source that closely tracks piracy attacks.
“They put out an SOS,” he said. “The timing was bad. The pirates just intercepted them.”
According to Mr. Mwangura and the East Africa-based Ecoterra International, which also monitors piracy attacks, there were four people on board the Adams’ boat, called the S/V Quest. According to the Adams’ Web site, the Quest is a Davidson 58 Pilot House Sloop, which has been the Adams’ home since they started an around-the-world trip in 2004.
Somalia’s pirates are getting increasingly bold — and vicious. Several hostages have been beaten and at least one was recently killed and some hostages have even been forced at gunpoint to accompany pirates on raids. Despite an enormous naval presence, with some of the world’s most powerful navies patrolling Somalia’s seas with dozens of warships, the pirates continue to strike with impunity. Dozens of vessels have been seized in the past year and ransoms have shot up from a few hundred thousand dollars to now typically $4 or $5 million.
moondance44
Banned
- Banned
- #4
Of course the first thought I had is what kind of morons would be yachting through there now. They must be motivated by something.
And here it is:
The Mission staement of the SY Quest.
Our Mission: To allow the power of the Word to transform lives.
We seek fertile ground for the Word and homes for our Bibles. Often, the ultimate homes are best found by people who are already living locally and seeking and cultivating that fertile ground. AND even more extraordinary are the times when people have been praying for Bibles for their group or their schools and when we arrive we are often greeted by the attitude of, "We were expecting you." (that is, they were looking for their prayers to be answered. And...) "What took you so long?" Additionally, we are often an amazing encouragement to folks who are long past "the honeymoon" stage of their ministry!
These photos represent over 60,000 miles of seeking homes for the Bibles on the Quest and include areas from New Zealand to Alaska to Central America - and now from Panama, through French Polynesia, the Cooks, Samoa, Tonga and back to New Zealand. 2007 finds us in the Fiji Islands. Also, not all distributions are included. Anytime we have workers on the boat or come into the dock and have an opportunity to talk to people we find more homes for our Bibles. We have just tried to cover a few of the highlights of our Bible Ministry.
I can think of places I'd rather be today than an American Bible thumper being held hostage by pissed off Muslim Somali pirates. Good luck to them.
And here it is:
The Mission staement of the SY Quest.
Our Mission: To allow the power of the Word to transform lives.
We seek fertile ground for the Word and homes for our Bibles. Often, the ultimate homes are best found by people who are already living locally and seeking and cultivating that fertile ground. AND even more extraordinary are the times when people have been praying for Bibles for their group or their schools and when we arrive we are often greeted by the attitude of, "We were expecting you." (that is, they were looking for their prayers to be answered. And...) "What took you so long?" Additionally, we are often an amazing encouragement to folks who are long past "the honeymoon" stage of their ministry!
These photos represent over 60,000 miles of seeking homes for the Bibles on the Quest and include areas from New Zealand to Alaska to Central America - and now from Panama, through French Polynesia, the Cooks, Samoa, Tonga and back to New Zealand. 2007 finds us in the Fiji Islands. Also, not all distributions are included. Anytime we have workers on the boat or come into the dock and have an opportunity to talk to people we find more homes for our Bibles. We have just tried to cover a few of the highlights of our Bible Ministry.
I can think of places I'd rather be today than an American Bible thumper being held hostage by pissed off Muslim Somali pirates. Good luck to them.
Last edited by a moderator:
DRIFTW00D
DRIFTW00D
Last edited by a moderator:
DaveK
Super Anarchist
What a bunch of idiots.
jesposito
Super Anarchist
Where are the sharp shooters?
I"m sure they would be willing to help out.
I"m sure they would be willing to help out.
Clove Hitch
Halyard licker
No doubt, with god on their side and a stack of bibles on the boat, they can read the gospel to the pirates and get them to turn themselves over to the US Navy.
Randall Flagg
Anarchist
IF they've got all those bibles, they should be fine. It sure worked with the christians in the Roman Coliseum.
blackjenner
Super Anarchist
The lord will provide: in this case, a boarding by pirates.
Man, I hope they are OK.
I do wonder when we/the world is going to do something about this piracy. I mean, yes, the country is in ruins and the pirates started doing this because they were starving (no excuse -- just acknowledging the pressures). However, this has to end.
How about a containment blockade? We have been wasting enough military power around the world. How about we use it for some good? You know, to protect others?
I say a blockade around the country and those waters.
Notice to all Somali citizens and neighboring countries. These waters are blockaded by military forces. You may travel within 5 miles of the coast, to fish, to travel to do commerce. Only registered commercial vessels, who are willing to be escorted and boarded, will be allowed to pass. if we find your little recreational skiff outside 5 miles we will board you, take away your playtoys (AK-47), take you prisoner, sunk your boat, and put you on shore, with only your clothes. If you resist, we will make a smoking hole in the water where you were. Find another way to make a living.
Man, I hope they are OK.
I do wonder when we/the world is going to do something about this piracy. I mean, yes, the country is in ruins and the pirates started doing this because they were starving (no excuse -- just acknowledging the pressures). However, this has to end.
How about a containment blockade? We have been wasting enough military power around the world. How about we use it for some good? You know, to protect others?
I say a blockade around the country and those waters.
Notice to all Somali citizens and neighboring countries. These waters are blockaded by military forces. You may travel within 5 miles of the coast, to fish, to travel to do commerce. Only registered commercial vessels, who are willing to be escorted and boarded, will be allowed to pass. if we find your little recreational skiff outside 5 miles we will board you, take away your playtoys (AK-47), take you prisoner, sunk your boat, and put you on shore, with only your clothes. If you resist, we will make a smoking hole in the water where you were. Find another way to make a living.
moondance44
Banned
- Banned
- #11
I agree it can relatively easily be stopped logistically, but its a political football and that's why it isnt. In fact it has gotten worse every year. It takes a multi national force in international waters and not many of our Arab friends are going to help us shoot their poor opressed brothers. Also its a big area to cover, these guys are now operating raids off of mother ships 350+ miles offshore. The Barbary pirates reign only ended when all of Europe decided enough was enough.
Innocent Bystander
Super Anarchist
Presuming Ed
Super Anarchist
Last edited by a moderator:
DoRag
Super Anarchist
Really?
"The First Barbary War was beneficial to the military reputation of the United States. America's military command and war mechanism had been up to that time relatively untested. The First Barbary War showed that America could execute a war far from home, and that American forces had the cohesion to fight together as Americans rather than separately as Georgians or New Yorkers. The United States Navy and Marines became a permanent part of the American government and American history, and Decatur returned to the U.S. as its first post-Revolutionary war hero.[citation needed]
However, the more immediate problem of Muslim Barbary piracy was not fully settled. By 1807, Algiers had gone back to taking American ships and seamen hostage. Distracted by the preludes to the War of 1812, the U.S. was unable to respond to the provocation until 1815, with the Second Barbary War, in which naval victories by Commodores William Bainbridge and Stephen Decatur led to treaties ending all tribute payments by the United States."
Not My Real Name
Not Actually Me
- 43,529
- 3,165
William of Bones
Member
hope the best for them
but heck
they are trouble makers
messing about with other peoples lives
rich white folks from the first world
go to third world
to tell poor brown and yellow people
the religion of their grandparents is wrong
but heck
they are trouble makers
messing about with other peoples lives
rich white folks from the first world
go to third world
to tell poor brown and yellow people
the religion of their grandparents is wrong
Last edited by a moderator:
Clove Hitch
Halyard licker
It seems like all these world cruisers venture into that area because they're making their way to or from the Med. According to the boat's website, S/V Quest was heading into the Med via Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. Why risk an abduction and a year-long prison sentence while you wait for your friends and family to pull together $1 million? Just grow some balls, duck into the high latitudes, and round the Cape of Good Hope like you were a born Volvo sailor.
Last edited by a moderator:
Clove Hitch
Halyard licker
