The number of privately owned commercial ships in the US flag fleet is dropping rapidly. Some are in domestic (Jones Act) trade and others in U.S. government work. Not to many ships under U.S. flag are left operating in international trade and those left are in competition with foreign flag ships. Now, throw a few pirates in and you have one of today’s top news stories.My better half’s father was a Captain for (CSX) Sealand (before the last few ownership changes) of one big arse ship! At the time his ship was one of the largest container ships around. A tour of it was like strolling through a large building and the bow was awe inspiring to me anyways. It brings on those could have been thoughts front and center around here.
A Captain held hostage hits a nerve in this family. I hope to heck that the resolution to this situation comes fast and Captain Richard Phillips is freed safely and unharmed.
The other part of me that runs loose in my brain – hopes that after the Captain and the crew of the .Maersk Alabama are safe the U.S. destroyer Bainbridge blows the freakn pirates to H double toothpicks. Somali pirates have staged more than 60 attacks on the high seas this year. Come on now! Apparently many of the pirates use GPS and satellite phones while attacking from smaller faster speedboats in coordination with a larger ship. I say blast the F’ing mother ship to smithereens.
Since I am in such a good mood and am on a roll – the man (for lack of a better word) who was holding his wife and three children hostage on a freeway – thank you for releasing them. Since your stupid and messed up standoff has shut down Interstate 80 initially in both directions and now the westbound lanes are still closed –
WOW YOU SURRENDERED YEAH – because I was gonna say who gives a rats arse if you kill yourself? I guess law enforcement officers did – shuck and darn I so wanted to wish good riddance and save some tax dollars.
Now that I have show that I can be a cold hearted big B I will end this rant.
Hi,
The pirates would be controlled if Somalia were under control shame the UN do not do anything about this but they ignore it ditto the situation in Sri Lanka where genocide is happening against the Tamil population.
And what about some action against the violence and muder against gays in Poland.
Take care.
Love,
Herrad
There are so many wrongs on this planet that need to be righted. The situation that was going on – the Captain held hostage – hit very close to home. This pirating has been going on for years, getting worse lately as they become more brazen and perhaps disparate?
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Answers to complex problems are usually not swift in coming.
Hi,
You are absolutely correct answers to complex problems are not as swift as we might all like.
Feel real bad about my response was not seeing it from your point of view.
Have been thinking about it alot since and am really sorry if I upset you.
If this had come as close as it does for you then I would have felt like you did.
The captain was extremely brave and is now quite rightly a hero and thankfully an alive hero who has returned to his family,friends and his crew.
Hope you have a good Sunday with good weather like we have.
Love,
Herrad
Hi,
Just read this in a UK paper:
THE family of a Briton held prisoner for seven months by Nigerian pirates were joyous last night after his captors released him.
The man, boat captain and married father-of-one, Robin “Barry” Hughes, 59, was seized by rebels along with scuba
diver Matthew Maguire, 34.
They were captured on September 9 in West Africa as they headed out to an oil rig to work on damaged undersea pipes.
Bloody hell it has been a long wait for the men and their families, glad they have been released.
Have been following these stories more closely since the US captain was freed.
Have a good day.
Love,
Herrad
Herrad,
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Sorry I did not answer your responses till now. I have not been spending any time on the computer this past few weeks.
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It is good for me sometimes to do other things LOL – like finish the painting, visit friends, etc.
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I was not the least bit upset about your response about the pirates. I love hearing others opinions and enjoy comments always. it is great that the American captain and the Briton captives were released/rescued.
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Hope I get motivated soon and come up with something to blog about.
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