Saw "Captain Phillips"

So when an airliner lands in a foreign country with armed people aboard, such as El-Al or a US airliner with Federal Air Marshals aboard are they a "war plane" and have lost their "innocent status"?
 
quote:
Originally posted by jpowell

My son is currently at Mass Maritime Academy. I believe Capt Phillips son is there also. My son said that if a merchant marine ship has weapons on it then some countries consider it a warship. He just asked that question in one of his classes last week, and that is the answer he got.

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I recall that from my haze gray edumacation days. My nephew went to Kings Point and he reiterated the same.
 
Hmmm....interesting article cited by L. Keith. I wonder if there's a recognized set of maritime Rules of Engagement when believed to be approached by pirates. Sounds like that security team (and the ship's crew) was very disciplined, knew what they were doing and closely followed an established ROE before firing upon the skiff. Bully for them.

V/R
 
Finally saw the movie last night
Thought it was very good and well done

Hanks did a superb job, but I also thought the guy playing the "capt" of the skiff acted quite well. Was he an actor or how did they recruit him
 
From NY Post: "This year’s Academy Awards show has got its own Cinderella story. Before last year, Barkhad Abdi worked as limo driver and clerk at his brother’s Mall of America store. But now, he’s an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Somali pirate Abduwali Muse in the Tom Hanks-led “Captain Phillips”;" I think all the pirates were found in a Somali community in Minneapolis or the environs
 
"Phillips has admitted that, on board, he got seven e-mails about increased piracy off Somalia — each exhorting ships to move farther offshore by at least 600 miles.
The Maersk was 235 miles off the coast, says the crew member, though Phillips has since rounded that number up to 300.
“I couldn’t tell you exactly the miles,” Phillips tells The Post. “I don’t know.”
In 2010, Phillips told CNN the Maersk was 300 miles off shore; published reports from that time had the ship at 240."

How exactly does a captain not know how many miles off the coast is he in an area with known pirate activity? Or any coast for that matter.

It sounds like if he had just followed the company directive it all could have been avoided.

As to weapons on board, under international law/treaties merchant vessels that arm themselves can be considered war ships. Also crews, shipping companies and insurers aren't always wild about the idea of having weapons on board either. Unless perhaps they are in the hands of a trained professional security team. But then there is the costs involved in placing a team on every vessel. Verses the odds of ever needing them. I'm sure it comes down to a cost/benefit analysis.
 
Just saw it Friday night and we were glued to the screen throughout. I thought it was a great movie.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

As to weapons on board, under international law/treaties merchant vessels that arm themselves can be considered war ships.

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No.
 
Well that is what I've read repeatedly. I believe the IMO is against it as well. That and other governments can/do consider armed merchant vessels as war ships. Plus many ports will not allow armed merchant ships to come in because they are defacto war ships once armed. So in some cases they have been off loading the weapons to smaller "arsenal" boats before entering port. And it's my understanding that governments do not want any weapons that may be carried on board a merchant ship to fall into or be sold to the wrong people. Now having a for hire properly trained and armed security force on board in control of the weapons may be another story.

"Another issue is conflicting laws regarding armed persons on ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the world organization charged with standardization of maritime regulations, is against arming merchant vessels. Some large organizations of shipping companies were against armed vessels at first, but have softened their stance. Following the 2009 Maersk Alabama incident, the US Coast Guard began issuing guidance to US vessels for when and where to carry armed guards but other countries, notably South Africa, have detained both ships and crew caught carrying weapons for use against pirates."
 
Capt. Bill1 is correct, as was Commodore Grace Murray Hopper!
 
Allowing folks to protect themselves really scares Bureaurats.
From top to bottom, they are well defended by those we pay.

Bureaurats share no risk with the folks doing the work.

Besides.,all the extra insurance costs are passed on to you.
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

Capt. Bill1 is correct, as was Commodore Grace Murray Hopper!

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To be mentioned in the same sentence with Commodore Hopper for what ever reason is quite an honor. :-)

"Jay Elliot described Grace Hopper as appearing to be "'all Navy', but when you reach inside, you find a 'Pirate' dying to be released"."
 
It still lacks the other two required elements to be considered a warship - crew subject to regular military discipline, and commanded by a commissioned officer.

I'll do some quick refresher studying and make sure I'm remembering that right.
 
I guess the definition might be a bit fluid based on who is applying it and for what reason. In this case I was not just talking about how the US government defines a war or military ship.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

I guess the definition might be a bit fluid based on who is applying it and for what reason. In this case I was not just talking about how the US government defines a war or military ship.

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Nor was I. I'm referring to the UNCLOS, and preceding Hague Convention definitions. Well settled and well accepted international definitions.

http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/UNCLOS-TOC.htm

http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part2.htm
 
I rented the movie last night. Not a bad watch at all. There were certain safety aspects I find a bit odd but, it is what it is.

Good movie, entertaining.
 
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