SOMALI pirates hijacked a small Danish-flag general cargo ship last Saturday some 114 miles off the coast and sailed it towards Hobbio, north of Mogadishu, where there is now a small fleet of hijacked vessels.
According to reports a French warship arrived on the scene as the Danica White entered Somali waters but refused requests from the ship's manager, H Folmer, to intervene within territorial waters. - MGN
The French warship could have done something to keep the vessel from entering the harbor but chose not to, giving the weak excuse that it was not able to go into Somali territorial waters. Surely it can't be hard to get permission to do so, if not before than after the fact. After all, the US Navy is there shelling terrorists/shore pirates there and they don't seem to be having problems with the Somali Government. Whatever happened to 'hot pursuit'? What about a common decency to help your fellow man in trouble? 
Why was the warship there in the first place? My guess is they were busy taking pictures. Anyone who has been near the French Navy knows that they are good at that.
Why was the warship there in the first place? My guess is they were busy taking pictures. Anyone who has been near the French Navy knows that they are good at that.The ship is managed by H. Folmer & Co.
This is the same ship whose Captain was jailed by the US Coast Guard as profiled in Maritime Monday 50.
Scandinavian Shipping Gazette has an interview with an apologetic Captain Villy Larson, the Danish Captain of the DANICA WHITE, who ended up spending 104 days in jail from what appears to be no reason other than the US Coast Guard boarding officer being a jerk. (Note: FFI is highly Pro-Coast Guard!) Summary of the initial incident at Tim's Times.
I hope for their safe return.
Update: 5 June
Eagle Speak has the news that the US Navy did attempt to stop the pirates here. He also has comments concerning hot pursuit here. (Eagle 1 regularly covers issues in Somalia)
1 comment:
The French warship could have done something to keep the vessel from entering the harbor but chose not to, giving the weak excuse that it was not able to go into Somali territorial waters. Surely it can't be hard to get permission to do so, if not before than after the fact. After all, the US Navy is there shelling terrorists/shore pirates there and they don't seem to be having problems with the Somali Government. Whatever happened to 'hot pursuit'? What about a common decency to help your fellow man in trouble?
The USS Carter Hall didn't follow the Danish ship into territorial waters either.
The French navy vessel got close to the ship, gathered all the information they could about its situation and heading, and immediately called the Danish owner to let him know what had happened and to offer to follow and try to stop the ship, according to the owner.
They only backed off when they were ordered by their superiors to stay in international waters. Just like the American ship nearby.
The actions of the French in this case is not even an issue in Denmark, and seeing this misdirected internet anger is both sad and a bit amusing.
- Your friendly neighborhood Dane
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