Blood ransom
Subtitle: stories from the front line in the war against Somali piracy
By: John Boyle
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 298
ISBN-13: 9781472912671; 9781472920041; 9781472912695; 9781472912688
Subjects: Piracy; World politics; Maritime terrorism; International cooperation; Hijacking of ships; Prevention
Description: For the first time in history, the navies of the world have united against a common enemy - a couple of thousand rag-tag, underfed men and boys in the western Indian Ocean. Crammed into open boats and armed with ancient AK-47s, they range up to a thousand miles from home shores in Somalia. No one knows how many die at sea. But occasionally they hit the jackpot, seizing vessels and crews to be ransomed for millions of dollars. This is a war that has estimated to have cost the global economy as much as $18 billion in a single year. Lawyer turned award-winning filmmaker John Boyle takes us with him in this investigation into modern-day piracy. We meet all those involved - from pirates to presidents, naval commanders to negotiators, and heroes to hostages. He addresses why these young men are choosing to risk their lives and freedom; the reality of life as a pirate; the defense tactics used by the international navies and shipping vessels; and what happens next ...
Table of contents: title: A failed state; title: Pirates in paradise; title: The legendary land of Punt; title: One of the oldest professions; title: How to be a pirate; title: First encounter; title: A president on the front line; title: Fighting the war on piracy; title: A reluctant hostage; title: Complaints about the food; title: An unwise target; title: Naval Force headquarters; title: Talking with the pirates; title: Outwitting the pirates; title: Best practice; title: The container-ship captain; title: The policeman who didn't become a pirate; title: The law of the sea; title: From the Old Bailey to the beach; title: The Alba Star case; title: How to defend pirates; title: Omerta; title: A high price to pay; title: The anti-piracy industry; title: Keeping the ships safe; title: The skipper and the pirates; title: Shopping for pirates; title: Who is really profiting?; title: Rolly, the 70-year-old hostage; title: The forgotten hostages; title: A man on a mission; title: The pirate captain; title: The UN ambassador telling it as it is; title: No happy endings.