Comments

21 responses to “Maersk Alabama = ELINT platform?”

1. 2009/04/09

   Mark

   Maersk Line Limited operates U.S. flagged ships, and as such, uses U.S. supplied crew members. Deck officers (the captain and mates) are employees by the line. The bosun (deck foreman), deck hands, stewards, and engine workers are hired for specific runs from a Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (SUP) or Seafarers International Union of North America (SIU) hiring hall in the United States.

   Officers of U.S. flagged vessels must be licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and crew members must be certified as well. These certifications are only available to U.S. citizens and resident aliens.

   Shipping union contracts with shipping carriers operating U.S. flagged vessels require these vessels to only use union crews, even when not operating into or out of U.S. ports.

   Crew members of U.S. flagged vessels which transit U.S. ports must qualify for, be issued, and carry a U.S. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) issued Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card. TWIC cards are only available to U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

   So while it is possible crew has some foreigners on it, a U.S. flagged vessel will not have a “wildly multi-national crew”. It is highly likely the crew is all American.

   As for repelling invaders, it’s Americans’ DNA, from United flight 93 to American Airlines flight 63 to the Maersk Alabama.

   And regarding the involvement of the U.S. military, it is not unusual at all. The U.S. military has been defending civilian shipping from pirates since the Barbary Wars two centuries ago, and one of its missions is to keep the sea lanes open for U.S. flagged vessels. The U.S. also has a history of government involvement (both military and diplomatic) in freeing captive citizens, sometimes too zealously as occurred during the Lebanon hostage taking in the 1980s which led to the Iran Contra affair.

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2. 2009/04/09

   shippy

   That ship is American flagged, so, like any other American flagged vessel, it is required to have an all American crew. There is nothing surprising about that. And there is nothing surprising about protecting U.S. commerce. You are seeing this response because it is an American ship, despite it’s being owned by Maersk. If you are not American, you may not understand how Americans feel about people attacking any other Americans, but as an American Merchant Marine Officer, I can tell you that this country takes care of itself, and you’re going to see that over and over. Welcome to America! Please return back to your country safely, when you leave.

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3. 2009/04/09

   Dave Walker

   I’m not normally one for conspiracy theories, but yes, that’s a very abnormal set of events.

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4. 2009/04/09

   Lisa

   From the NYT:
   “American officials praised the crew’s decision to disable the ship. The Alabama’s second in command, Capt. Shane Murphy, is the son of an instructor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy who teaches a course on how to repel pirate attacks.

   The crew apparently put some of these lessons into practice. At one point, they ambushed and managed to capture one of the pirates, holding him “for 12 hours,” Ken Quinn, the second mate on the ship, told CNN. They eventually released the pirate in an attempted hostage exchange. “We returned him but they didn’t return the captain,” he said.

   The 508-foot-long Alabama had been bound for the Kenyan port of Mombasa and was carrying food and other agricultural materials for the World Food Program, a United Nations agency, and other clients, including the United States Agency for International Development. ”

   The second in command knows how to repell pirates and the cargo contains stuff from an uniquely named agency that sounds like something out of a Bond movie …

   Lisa.
   http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/world/africa/10pirates.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

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5. 2009/04/09

   Katz

   It kind of fits. I do know that many cargo ships have begun issuing crews semi-automatic weapons to repel pirates. Many cargo ships do not have a multinational crew, though. Think of the US Merchant Marine academy, etc. Some cargo ships are subcontracted by the US Gov’t to send arms/supplies to Iraq, etc, and I know those crews will be US-only, too.

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6. 2009/04/09

   Chris Samuel

   The page about Maersk A Class at Global Security is even more interesting on the matter…

   Maersk Line, Limited is based in Norfolk, Virginia, and is one of the Department of Defense’s primary shipping contractors. It has been a reliable partner for the government in peacetime and war for almost 30 years. The company operates vessels registered in the United States in full compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. It manages a fleet of nearly 50 ships in commercial and government service, including vessels requiring Top Secret security clearances. Maersk Line, Limited, a subsidiary of Denmark’s A.P. Moller/Maersk A.S., is independently controlled by a board of directors comprised entirely of U.S. citizens.

   and even more tellingly..

   On October 1, 2004 Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) announced that it had signed agreements with the Maritime Administration that will transfer six Maritime Security Program (MSP) operating agreements to modern containerships that will replace six existing MSP vessels built in the 1980s and managed by U.S. Ship Management, Inc. (USSM). The new replacement vessels are: Sealand Intrepid, Sealand Lightning, Sealand Charger, Sealand Comet, Sealand Meteor and Alva Maersk.

   There’s information on the Maritime Security Program at the website of the Federation of American Scientists, but to quote:

   The Maritime Security Program provides limited operating assistance to keep 47 US commercial militarily-useful ships sailing under US flags.

   Tada.. 😉

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7. 2009/04/09

   Chris Samuel

   There’s more information on the MSP at the US Department of Transport, including a fleet list.

   It says that the Maersk Alabama is owned by the Waterman Steamship Corporation who operate “between the USA and Middle East ports”, but I suspect that’s actually a mistake..

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8. 2009/04/09

   Ops

   Katz

   Your comment “I do know that many cargo ships have begun issuing crews semi-automatic weapons to repel pirates.” is nonsense and spreading/starting such claptrap is actually dangerous.

   1. Merchant seamen are not permitted by their contracts (or common sense) to posess weapons of any sort. If you had ever shipped out you would know why.

   2. Mercenaries (so-called “security contractors” will board at either Aden or Salalah Oman and ride & protect either armed or unarmed (with LRAD’s &c) for $100-150k depending on where they mobilize.

   Even having such persons on board is somewhat of an issue for shipowners since their insurance coverage never envisioned this sort of problem.

   For the rest of you – this is a routine and normal voyage which was interupted by 4 or more stupid Somali’s and nothing more. But keep the tin foil handy just in case ;?

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9. 2009/04/09

   Raul

   To note this is not the first repelling of the pirates in the region although the first to make the international news in a big way see: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1098125/Pictured-Desperate-Chinese-sailors-fight-Somali-pirates-beer-bottles-Molotov-cocktails.html

   Further reports say the chinese company rewarded each of the men $10,000 for saving the vessel. Will an American company do the same?

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10. 2009/04/09

    Scott Allen

    The idea that Maersk Alabama is an ELINT ship is one of the dumbest speculations imaginable.

    Reply
11. 2009/04/09

    Sailor Dale

    You have no clue what you are writing about!!!
    Mark’s comment is correct and right on the mark! As a US Merchant Marine, member of S.I.U. I can say that we Americans will take care of our own. Nothing unusual at all about this situation. The pirates made the mistake of their lives when they attempted to take an American flagged vessel. I have been on many ships passing through that area.
    One time the ship even had a US Navy security force on board. They mounted .50 cal. machine guns port & starboard, forward & aft! The 4 .50 Cal’s and several roving patrols, all armed with M-16’s
    (Locked & Loaded) We picked them up in Spain, and carried them with us through the Suez & up the Persian Gulf to Kuwait and back to Spain…… Just a U.S. ship carrying American sailors & cargo.
    No “conspiracy theories” at all!!!!!

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12. 2009/04/10

    Sailors wife

    I agree with Ops. My husband is a Captain with Maersk and is presently travelling across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town. It is nonsense to say that Merchant seamen – or those employed by reputable companies – are being issued with weapons of any sort. At this stage NO merchant ships carry weapons although these pirates having been causing havoc for many years and all Maersk ships have regular pirate drills and security measures that they take when passing through pirate infested waters. For Raul’s information Maersk is not an American company, it is Danish and only the ship is US registered requiring it to be manned by US citizens, however the Maersk Alabama may well be owned by the Waterman Steamship Company and chartered to Maersk.

    My thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs Phillips being a sailor’s wife is not easy in this day and age. At least she knows that her husband being American will have the might of America behind him. Unfortunately this cannot be said for all of us who are not lucky enough to be US citizens – what South Africa’s take would be in the same situation is questionable.

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13. 2009/04/10

    alecm

    @scott:

    > The idea that Maersk Alabama is an ELINT ship is one of the dumbest speculations imaginable.

    Stupendous! I like being an original thinker.

    Reply
14. 2009/04/11

    Natalie

    My prayers go out to each family member of every ship that has been hijacked from any country. In my opinion, we should send in the missles and wipe out the towns where these pirate come from and the towns of those who give the orders. Stop pussy footing around and put them in their place.

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15. 2009/04/12

    Chris Samuel

    …because that worked *so* well in Afghanistan and Iraq ?

    Sigh, an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind (and very stupid from the look of it).. 🙁

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16. 2009/04/13

    Daffy Duck

    The reason for the hostage standoff in Somalia is, in esssence, an elaborate “false flag” operation. Somali pirates have been harassing ‘wealth transfer’ from mainland Africa to the Seychelles Islds. The Seychelles are becomming the “New World” for ex-patriot tax evaders, drug lords, and money launderers. You will never see anything on the internet however, as this is a high level op.

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17. 2009/04/18

    Tony

    I sailed as First Engineer and laid up the American
    Lark when the U.S. Lines went belly up.
    If my information is right…I thought that Sealand
    sold out to Maersk, but that’s not my question.
    I’m really puzzled as to how the pirates were
    able to get aboard the ship in the first place?
    Then one script mentioned that the crew helped
    the pirates get off the ship with the “captain”.
    There would have to be “help” to get on the
    ship in the first place. Even if there was a Jacob’s
    Ladder, it would be difficult to get aboard while
    underway let alone being stationary. Every sea-
    man will attest to that when many of us who had
    shore leave while the ship was anchored off shore
    before being assiged a berth to unload. So how
    did the pirates get aboard? They had to be helped. The unlicensed crew were SIU members,
    but no mentioned as to what unions were the
    officers affilated with. I believe that Sealand was
    crewed by the SIU and thus stand to reason that
    Maersk Alabama be crewed by the SIU instead of the NMU. The deck Officers were probably crewed by the Masters, Mates and Pilots….and the engine
    room by my former union, the MEBA….I retired
    over 24 years ago. Look….you would be taking
    your life in hand if you tangle with an American
    seaman. For a long time, a seaman were taken
    as a second class citizen. Thus, he took avenge
    against society by “hitting”. It was nothing for
    a seaman to go ashore and end up in a brawl.
    To that seaman, it was just another way to dust
    off the cobwebs in being civility. The pirates will
    probably start to realize this.

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18. 2009/04/18

    mp

    I raised (or, implied at any rate) a similar question about the Maersk Alabama’s “uniqueness” here:

    http://solyaris.net/2009/04/maerskalabama/

    That said, as an American, I don’t think it’s particularly unusual for this crew to have repelled the pirates, regardless of what the Maersk may have been carrying, and not just for the usual patriotic reasons. First, as Americans they are probably aware that they won’t be getting whatever passes for “standard” hostage treatment – whether this belief is borne out in fact or not. Second, as a crew made up of primarily one nationality it might well be that they were simply better organized and thus better able to coordinate an effective resistance.

    As for the Bainbridge rushing to assistance, this would be normal and is borne out by precedent (the Mayaguez, as I mention in my link). It would especially be warranted under such high-profile circumstances with a new president in office who could not be seen as prevaricating in face of one of his first hostage-related decisions.

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19. 2009/04/19

    Guilherme Lemmi

    I agree with you, there’s way more behind this story than what we’re being told.

    I believe Daffy Duck is 100% correct, the pirates (hungry teenagers from the devastaded somalia) have found a way to take some money out of the illegal trade that uses somalia’s waters in their routes to traffic drugs, human beings, weapons and radioactive waste.

    As the US is the main sponsor of that illegal trade (through CIA covert operations) they managed to create this false flag attack, to put public opinion on their side on the “getting tough with pirates” debate.

    The ultimate consequence will be the desestabilization of the region even more, and the looting of Africa (oil, diamonds, gold, etc) between the G8 nations.

    I strongly recommend the book “Crossing the Rubicon” from Mike Ruppert, he exposes a lot of CIA covert operations on drug traffic, oil exploration and the phony “war on terror”

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20. 2009/04/19

    Guilherme Lemmi

    You definetly want to read this:

    http://sutherlandsalute.blogspot.com/2009/04/somali-piratesspooksfalse-flag-meets.html

    There are loads of information putting this situation in the right context.

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21. 2012/08/20

    Captain Shane Murphy

    Well I was the one that tried to trade the pirate for the Captain, and took command of the ship after it failed. Your theories are all wrong. It was pretty easy for them to get aboard, and it is very common. Maybe focus your efforts on the Denver Airport your barking up a dead dogs ass here, no grand conspiracy just shitty luck.

    Reply