http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1884089/posts
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QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1884089/posts?page=196#196
MORE DETAILS...
Thanks to STARWISE for the ping to this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1888516/posts
“More on the Seattle Ferry Story”
Captain’s Quarters Blog ^ | 8-29-07 | Ed Morrissey
Posted on 08/29/2007 3:35:11 PM PDT by Renfield
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and this blog entry:
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/012298.php
August 29, 2007
“More On The Seattle Ferry Story”
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/28/fbi.ferry/index.html
updated 10:50 p.m. EDT, Tue August 28, 2007
“FBI seeks two men behaving oddly on Washington ferry”
SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) —
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Members of the public and ferry workers reported the men to authorities after the two were seen pacing in areas of the boat, including a cargo hold, as if trying to measure distances, FBI Special Agent Larry Carr said Tuesday.
The men were also seen about two months ago taking photographs of the ferries — including restricted areas — and studying an emergency evacuation poster.
The men were spotted on multiple ferries and ferry routes, Carr said.
The FBI wants to question the men to determine if their behavior was harmless or whether they were surveilling the ferries and ferry terminals for nefarious purposes.
A ferry worker snapped photos of the men using a cell phone camera and gave the stills to law enforcement. The photos were shown to police and ferry workers, but no one could identify the men, so authorities called on the public for help.”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Carr said the FBI made the photos public because “the result of not doing anything at that point in time is a ferry blowing up and thousands of people losing their lives. We can’t let that happen.””
196 posted on 08/29/2007 4:38:25 PM PDT by Cindy
ICC-CCS.ORG - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
Weekly Piracy Report
22-28 August 2007
The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 22 to 28 August 2007.
ALERT
Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
Fifty two incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Ships are advised to take extra precautions.
The 2006 Annual IMB Report on Piracy and Armed Attacks against Ships is now published. Please see the end of this page to order.
Suspicious crafts
16.07.2007: 2000 UTC: Off Somalia
Inspite of rough weather, one suspicious boat tried to approach a ship underway. The boat stopped altered course and moved away when she noticed alert crew on board
Recently reported incidents
25.08.2007: 0300 UTC: Conakry anchorage, Guinea.
About 30 robbers armed with guns boarded a chemical tanker. Crew locked all access to ship and attempted to contact local authorities for help but failed to get any response. Robbers later left the ship. Nothing stolen and no harm to crew / ship. Ship weighed anchor and proceeded to high seas for safety.
02.08.2007: 0100 LT: Shell jetty, Sandakan. Sabah, Malaysia.
An unknown person boarded a berthed product tanker via the gangway. The crew spotted him and chased him. The robber ran towards the forecastle, jumped overboard, and escaped.
24.08.2007: 0055 LT: 03:55.3N – 098:46.56E: Belawan anchorage, Indonesia.
A product tanker at anchor, waiting to berth, maintained an anti piracy watch on the forecastle, main deck and poop deck. The ABs on the main deck and poop heard the AB on the forecastle shouting. They alerted the bridge on radio. The D/O tried to contact him but there was no response. The alarm was raised and the crew alerted. A through search was carried out for the AB but he was not found. Local authorities informed.
23.08.2007: 0555 UTC: 00:58N - 050:48E, Somalia.
A container ship, underway, spotted a suspected pirate boat at a range of 10 nm. The boat suddenly increased speed and headed for the ship. The ship increased speed and took evasive manoeuvres to maintain a CPA of not less than 5 nm with the boat. The suspected boat pursued the ship for around two and a half hours before giving up the pursuit.
22.08.2007: 1605 UTC: 01:04.1N - 103:30.4E, Karimun STS anchorage, Indonesia.
Eight robbers armed with knives boarded a product tanker. They held three duty crew and tide them up. The robbers broke open the engine store and stole spares. D/O raised the alarm and crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped in an unlit boat.
18.08.2007: 0300 LT: Posn 03:54.47N – 098:46.68E, Belawan anchorage, Indonesia.
Robbers boarded a general cargo ship, at anchor, and held one AB as hostage. They stole ship’s stores and escaped. The AB was released unharmed. Local authorities informed.
My friend told me that this route (actually two ferry boats) has for the past two weeks had constant Coast Guard escort. Both starboard and port sides of each ferry, going in either direction, have constant CG escort. He said these are the CG boats that are equipped with large weapons, I'm thinking either 20mm or .50. He has been taking this ferry route every couple of days for the past seven years and this level of security is something he has never seen before. Most curious.