The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates.
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I don’t understand how these shipping companies don’t find it cheaper to just hire armed security than pay these ransoms. It has to be cheaper.
I remember reading an article a few years ago how blackwater was going to get into the pirate protecting business by buying boats, outfighting them with weapons and then charge shipping companies a straight fee to convoy a whole bunch of them through the pirate infested areas. That sounded like a good idea.
Another area of the world that get’s less attention and I know at one time had greater piracy is through the straits of Molaka. When on ship and we went through there to get to the Indian Ocean, I can remember scores of commercial ships that used to tag along our convoy through the straights to get free protection from the U.S. Navy. They would literally wait at the mouth of the straits for Navy convoys.
A MOAB centered on each pirate ship after it returns to port would greatly discourage any popular support these scum enjoy from the scum on land.
Time to bring back the destroyer protected convoys.
Move the Tankers and Cargo Ships in a military Convoy on Weapons Free. That will end the Piracy.
We need Congressional letters of Marquee and Reprisals. Dangerous job convoying other ships while in tight waterways. One wrong turn and some country takes your ship and puts you in jail because you have weapons aboard. However with Marquee and Reprisals they operate under a somewhat limited protection via U.S diplomacy.
Ho, ho...ho! Hold on. Let's keep this sophisticated.
Pirates should be publicly hanged in a Colosseum themed proceeding and the ports they sail from should be rendered uninhabitable.
The Somali pirates are very sophisticated. They have spies in the insurance and shipping companies to help figure out what ships to raid, and they have a stock exchange where folks can buy shares of the profits for equipping pirates, etc.
In a sane society, this would not do them any good, because their coast line would be scorched ruins, and their boats sunk, but for some screwy reason we don’t deal with pirates properly any more.
bonus of up to $10,000 for the first man to board a ship and for those bringing their own weapon or ladder.
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Now that is how to plan a ‘low overhead’ business.
That would be like getting a job in a Pizza shop and have to supply your own oven - in order to qualify for a bonus.
In typical Union/Government fashion those that don’t bring ladders will be suing for extra money because those that bought their own ladders are given a ‘step up’.
Of course, that is the way it should be BUT the lawyers and unions will handle it.