Quote Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff View Post
How would fire hoses in anyway reduce gunfire in the direction of the ship? Yes, as an option it would reduce the number of bullets traveling away from the ship, but who cares about those? Pirates would be shooting at the boat aiming at guys controlling hoses instead of guys shooting firearms.

Good sentiment, though - something needs to be done and simply nay saying anyone's ideas isn't going to get anyone anywhere.

(ASIDE - Hosa: what do you think about Giuliani and his possibility of picking up Hillary's or Patterson's seat? There is a discussion going on in the election thread.)
Here's a link describing some of the methods used. Scroll down to the heading, Combating Piracy. The pirates involved in taking these big ships aren't fools, just the opposite. Boarding a huge ship from a small boat is best accomplished by stealth or guile not with guns blazing. Shooting at an oil or lpg tanker is risking suicide by fire and/or explosion, not much profit in that.
The latest seizure demonstrates that these pirate syndicates are adjusting their tactics by expanding their area of operations farther out to sea. Probably because of the increased awareness of pirate activity by crews when closer to shore, and the relaxation of vigilance when farther out.