Looks like the SBS had a busy Sunday.....Tanker stowaways: Seven detained off Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-54684440
Tanker hijack
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European Bloke
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So you've been doing a bit of gentle stowing away, you've almost reached your destination, and 6 helicopter loads of the SBS turn up. That's a disappointing end to the trip, and probably a pair of trousers.
It's not quite the Iranian embassy, but not every generation get to do that.
It's not quite the Iranian embassy, but not every generation get to do that.
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My understanding from the stories is that the stowaways were known to the crew from early on the voyage, the owners lawyers liars have said that the incident was NOT a hijacking.. and that only in the last moment did the stowaways turn 'violent' and threaten the crew.
And yes.. The SBS trains for this and shall not take any nonsense... flash bang.. and fat lady sang....
7 minutes from start to finish.
And yes.. The SBS trains for this and shall not take any nonsense... flash bang.. and fat lady sang....
7 minutes from start to finish.
Couldn't get much more 'in your own backyard' could you. Do you reckon they had the Sunday Roast before or after the quick tanker assault...?
The Q
Super Anarchist
sailman
Super Anarchist
Maritime Law doesn't get updated very often so I would imagine that this would fall into the Piracy on the High Seas category which would be death by hanging!
European Bloke
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The report I read said the crew had retreated to the citadel. Basically a steel room you can lock from inside but still have some control of the ship to protect you from pirates.
If it had got to that stage, then yeah call in the SBS. FOUR choppers and fast rap to the deck.
If it had got to that stage, then yeah call in the SBS. FOUR choppers and fast rap to the deck.
Rasputin22
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My Dad was Navy Intelligence with a background in amphib ops and when the USN spy ship PUEBLO got taken he had to come up with a plan to 'extract' the crew. A couple of years later the ammo ship COLUMBIA EAGLE got taken by the Cambodians and he came up with the idea of hanging those big rope nets the Marines used to climb down into the landing craft from an amphib ship right on the helos. They were going to roll them up and when nearing the containership the SEAL guys would let the net unroll and climb down and hang from the net en mass an the helo pilot would lay the net right on top of the containers on the ship. They figured that would put more boots (and guns) in the fray faster. Not sure how that ended up. Fast rappel may have developed from that net idea.
Lots of development of that sort of stuff towards the end of the Vietnam conflict. I found that FAST RAP was developed by Marlow Ropes during the Falkland crisis!
Lots of development of that sort of stuff towards the end of the Vietnam conflict. I found that FAST RAP was developed by Marlow Ropes during the Falkland crisis!
^ #1 Son is a lieutenant in the Italian Police’s counter-terrorism unit. A few months ago he visited, and I saw that a large piece of skin of one cheek had been abraded. Turns out he had been rappeling from a helo onto a ferry, didn’t grip the rope properly and it brushed against his cheek. And he couldn’t do anything because there was the rest of hia team following closely (actually, being the leader, he was second on the rope - the first is supposed to get killed)
kinardly
Super Anarchist
You thinking what I'm thinking? The crew was in on it from the start, making a little money on the side smuggling illegals, changed their minds or maybe held out for more money, and the whole thing went south when the smugglees didn't play ball?
((Apologies to European and Asian readers - Explanations have to be given because Americans (North and South) are clueless about this type of situation. ))
Maybe but I seem to remember a couple of cases in the early 90's where non Western European Crews got in a heap of trouble for reporting the stowaways. Then the Ships crews stopped reporting and hoped or helped the stowaways off the ship. Then they started getting busted when the stowaways were found onboard by Customs. Then a Russian crew got busted for tossing off Stowaways (Killing them) enroute. Except that crew missed one and he survived to report the murders. There was even a cheap movie made.
So my guess is that the Stowaways are found but the Skipper hopes to end his problem with the unwanted guests getting off at the destination without the knowledge of the UK. Something goes very wrong. The crew takes shelter and the SBS (UK SEAL Team) is called in by police.
For North and South Americans these stories are received with a bit of amazement. For European Receivers this is an everyday concern. The Stowaways are definitely not peaceful. They will fight and you do not know if or what type of weapons they have. Keep in mind that disposing of even an AK is easy. Just toss it overboard. Various Navies, Coast Guard and Police encountered enroute are unhelpful unless the ship enters a Countries waters. So the crews are supposed to conduct an inspection prior to getting underway from the African port. If the crew fails to find the Stowaways prior to getting underway they have a real problem without a clear solution that keeps the ships Skipper out of trouble.
This story seems to be not over.
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European Bloke
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The stowaways are sometimes handed over to the police on docking, as they should be. To avoid this they have a tendency to jump over the side and try to swim ashore when they get close to land if they think this will happen. Tides are strong, it's a lot further than it looks from a big ship, and they often don't make it.
Giving the crew credit it's possible in this case that they intend to hand them over on docking and asked them to go into a cabin as they got close to shore to avoid them jumping. The stowaways saw it coming and didn't react well. That could be supported by the area where this all kicked off.
Or it could be something else all together.
Giving the crew credit it's possible in this case that they intend to hand them over on docking and asked them to go into a cabin as they got close to shore to avoid them jumping. The stowaways saw it coming and didn't react well. That could be supported by the area where this all kicked off.
Or it could be something else all together.
maxstaylock
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The shipping company is responsible for all costs of repatriating all humans who arrive and don't leave on a vessel, and maintaining them until repatriation, hence the reluctance to declare stowaways at the earliest convenience. If the ship delayed reporting the extra people aboard, it's because they were hoping for a cheaper resolution. Am not saying the russian approach is wrong, I don't want anyone aboard, ever, I have not invited, it's like a home invasion, but lasts for weeks.
nolatom
Super Anarchist
True only to the extent that the port state they are disembarked at, requires repatriation at ship's expense (and almost all do). I don't think maritime law, absent a port state law, requires repatriation
So--- that said, mandatory repatriation of stowaways is covered by their P&I insurance terms. So the captain that "lets" them swim for it, or puts them on a rickety raft made from dunnage wood, so they would drift ashore (no guffaws, it has happened) is either an idiot, or a dullard. Insurance picks up the tab.
European Bloke
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However we all know that actually using your insurance isn't great for next year's premiums. So he'll have that to answer for to his boss.
