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Police in a southern Indian port city on Friday arrested the crew of a U.S.-owned ship on charges of illegally transporting weapons and ammunition in Indian waters.
Eight crew and 25 security guards aboard the MV Seaman Guard Ohio were arrested after they failed to produce documents allowing them to carry the weapons, Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh told reporters.
The ship is owned by Virginia-based security company AdvanFort but is registered in Sierra Leone. It was detained Oct. 12 and has been in Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu state.
The ship's captain told investigators that the company provides armed escorts to merchant vessels traveling in pirate-infested waters in the Indian Ocean.
Police seized 35 automatic weapons and nearly 5,700 rounds of ammunition from the security guards on the ship, police said.
The men were charged with illegal possession of weapons and ammunition and entering India's territorial waters without permission, Singh said.
"The crew and security guards are cooperating with the investigators," she said, adding that information about the case had been shared with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.....snip~
India arrests crew of US ship carrying weapons
No word from our Embassy. According to the Captain.....they weren't in Indian Waters and that India's Coast Guard came to them and told them to follow them in. They say they are co-operating. Even had Indians as part of the Security Detail.
If this happened on October 12th and there has been no information coming out of the Obama administration I'm inclined to think the Indians have it right. Doesn't mean the ship's crew were on any nefarious missions, just that they were in the wrong place without the right paperwork - happens lots of time, I'm sure. Is probably being cleared up in back channels.
Associated Press – 9 hrs ago.....snip~
Quite a mixed bunch.....wouldn't you say CJ?
The ship had 10 crew members and 25 armed security guards from India, Britain, Estonia and Ukraine. Two of the crew members were not arrested and were allowed to stay on board the ship to carry out maintenance work.....snip~
Good evening MMC - nothing surprises me in that part of the world. It's why I consider myself truly blessed, regardless of what happens on any given day, because I was fortunate enough to be born in a country like Canada.
10 crew, 25 guards = 35 people. They had 35 weapons.
This isn't "TRANSPORTING WEAPONS" as the OP states. And given the threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean, I don't blame them.
Now, that said... going into a port without declaring the presence of the weapons or getting permission, is just dumb. While they're in international waters, fine. But to go into a sovereign port of another nation, with armed crew and guards, is asking for trouble. Even the US military gets clearance before doing that. I've landed at airports where we had to show our weapons to verify they match the manifest (we damn sure didn't turn them over though).
But still, this sounds like a big to do about nothing, IMHO. India, however is making a big deal about it.
Here's another link to how the Indian Press is spinning this: Know the detained USA ship-MV Seaman Guard Ohio - News Oneindia
I have two business associates that were "detained" by Indian authorities a few years ago, and their employers had to pay a ransom to get them out. They were charged with espionage, which it sounds from the video above, that these people may end up being charged with as well. Of course, the charges were false.
When the British left, India went to crap.
And, there's the tense relationship with the US/Pakistan/Afghanistan/Iran/Russia that's existed for years and put the US/Indian relationship on cold terms.
Yeah, I wouldn't consider it transporting weapons either. Plus making a big deal over 5000 rounds of ammo isn't a lot. Still the Captain insists they were in International Waters. Wonder if India attempted to inquire with our Embassy or are they just saying that because they got no word.
Here's what the company is saying: Company Official Statement in PDF Document
If this is accurate, it looks like it's what I thought, a whole lot of to do about nothing.
Well, the pay off would certainly not be included in the official report. Wouldn't surprise me if that happened. There are many nations throughout the world who detaining ships with legitimate port state authority for pay offs. I asked a captain of a merchant ship once why they carried so much cash on board (had just received $25k from an armored car on the dock) and he said simply to pay off port state and customs authorities. The way I looked at him made him follow up with "and no, we're not doing anything illegal. Its just the way many countries operate."
Police in a southern Indian port city on Friday arrested the crew of a U.S.-owned ship on charges of illegally transporting weapons and ammunition in Indian waters.
Eight crew and 25 security guards aboard the MV Seaman Guard Ohio were arrested after they failed to produce documents allowing them to carry the weapons, Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh told reporters.
The ship is owned by Virginia-based security company AdvanFort but is registered in Sierra Leone. It was detained Oct. 12 and has been in Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu state.
The ship's captain told investigators that the company provides armed escorts to merchant vessels traveling in pirate-infested waters in the Indian Ocean.
Police seized 35 automatic weapons and nearly 5,700 rounds of ammunition from the security guards on the ship, police said.
The men were charged with illegal possession of weapons and ammunition and entering India's territorial waters without permission, Singh said.
"The crew and security guards are cooperating with the investigators," she said, adding that information about the case had been shared with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.....snip~
India arrests crew of US ship carrying weapons
No word from our Embassy. According to the Captain.....they weren't in Indian Waters and that India's Coast Guard came to them and told them to follow them in. They say they are co-operating. Even had Indians as part of the Security Detail.
If an American ship is traveling in waters with known pirate activity....they should travel armed...regardless of who actually owns the water. Our ships are OUR ships and should abide by OUR laws and protect themselves accordingly. If any nation has a problem with OUR ships protecting themselves against ARMED pirates...we have 11 aircraft carriers to assist them in making the RIGHT choice in stopping piracy.
Yeah, lets commit acts of war against nuclear powers, brilliant idea. Contrary to popular opinion, acting like a pathetically insecure bully to inflate your ego is not a sound basis for foreign policy.
You think it's okay for a busniess, the security company, to do business without filing any of the necessary docs to do that business. No one said they couldn't be armed, but they had to get docs filed. I would imagine we have similar rules about folks from foreign countries coming to our waters similarly armed.Do you really think India would risk losing our business, let alone a nuclear war, with the United States over their obvious infringements on our vessels right to defense?
Your policy of just ignoring the infringement and forcing our sailors to travel unarmed is sending sheep to a slaughter. It is a policy of appeasement and we know how that works don't we?
Do you really think India would risk losing our business, let alone a nuclear war, with the United States over their obvious infringements on our vessels right to defense?
Your policy of just ignoring the infringement and forcing our sailors to travel unarmed is sending sheep to a slaughter. It is a policy of appeasement and we know how that works don't we?
You think it's okay for a busniess, the security company, to do business without filing any of the necessary docs to do that business. No one said they couldn't be armed, but they had to get docs filed. I would imagine we have similar rules about folks from foreign countries coming to our waters similarly armed.
If you weren't grossly ignorant, you would be aware that territorial waters are within the sovereign borders of the nation. Sending armed foreigners into those waters without the permission of the local government is an act of war. Committing acts of war against a nuclear power is insane. You really need to learn about foreign policy beyond your childish power fantasies.
Where did you read they were in International waters? I read Indian waters, so then yeah, a responsible company gets the paperwork accomplished.Why should they fill out documentation if they are in international waters and asked to go into port by the Indian Coast guard? If that is in fact what happened...the Indian Coast Guard can go to hell. Or do their part in taking out pirates in the ocean that bears their name.
Where did you read they were in International waters? I read Indian waters, so then yeah, a responsible company gets the paperwork accomplished.
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