Warning Shots Fired in the Suez Canal

[HeyJoe]

Warning Shots Fired in the Suez Canal
Story Number: NNS080325-02
Release Date: 3/25/2008 7:47:00 AM



From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The Global Patriot, a ship on short term charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, fired warning shots at a small boat approaching the ship as it was preparing to transit the Suez Canal March 24. There were no reports from the Global Patriot of
casualties.

Global Patriot was approached by several boats while preparing to transit the Suez Canal. The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker on the Global Patriot to advise them to turn away. Other warning steps, including a signal flare, were used to caution the boats.

One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20-30 meters in front of the boat's bow. All shots were accounted for as they entered the water.

The incident is under investigation. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet Command is cooperating with Egyptian authorities, including the Suez Canal authorities, through the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

 

[CommodoreMid]

Didn't see that is was under MSC at the time. All the article I saw on Fox said it was just a merchant, this makes more sense.

 

[Achilles]

The Egyptians are claiming that after the warning shot was fired one of the boats crew members was killed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_re_mi_ea/egypt_us_navy

 

[Lawman]

Ok let me see if I understand this correctly. The Egyptians are claiming to have both a dead and three wounded sailors directly involved in this incedent. However during the performance of memorial activities for the dead one nobody bothered to get an official statement as to 1. Who the hell these men are and 2. What in the hell they were doing. The whole "small boats often...." just seems like a great move to deflect attention away from what these idiots were really doing.

 

[Scoob]

It's a step that's needed to be taken for a long time. One would hope our response will not be to be apologetic, put ourselves in the wrong, and further expose ourselves to malicious intent in a VERY vulnerable situation. Hopefully we'll see a response more along the lines of apologetic, but standing firm on the necessity to defend ourselves.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Interesting. You guys ever heard of an ROE which allowed for warning shots???

Yes

 

[MasterBates]

Maybe now the locals will understand to stay the fvck back.

 

[raptor10]

According to the Egyptian Navy via Stratfor the Cargo Ship opened fire after warning the boat in English. They say the crew on board consisted of three individuals - one of which was the 17 year old fisherman who was killed.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Interesting. You guys ever heard of an ROE ...???

This is not the place to discuss ROE specifics WRT small boats approaching.

 

[scoober78]

Good call...deleted. Was trying not to get specific but that question begs the point.

 

[Flash]

According to the Egyptian Navy via Stratfor the Cargo Ship opened fire after warning the boat in English. They say the crew on board consisted of three individuals - one of which was the 17 year old fisherman who was killed.

Wrong.

 

[H20man]

The victim worked on the small boats that sell cigarettes and other products to the crews of ships going through the canal. - Yahoo AP

Ugh Suez Canal merchants.... a forced annoyance, they are allowed to come up onto CIVMAR ships with the pilot and the required "Bow Light" All they do is spread their crap out on deck and harass you to buy their crap.

Having had a security team on one of the ships I was on, this really does'nt surprise me. It was only a matter of time.