UI think two week ago the Indian Navy also boarded a pirate ship using it's commandos. Why can't the West and the Indians work together to make the sea lanes much more safer?.

Shawn, Melbourne, Victoria

@Nancy from Colorado. "Didnt know Indians HAD a navy"

Indian Navy, the 5th largest, with over 100 warships and subs, is well respected. It has an aircraft carrier with 3 more carriers expected in 3 years. The first Indian built nuclear submarine is due next year with 5 more expected in 4 years.

Sam Puzhakkal, New York, USA

I fear we may be forced to go back to the days of merchant companies maintaining standing armies and navies. The Dutch East India company in the 1700s and 1800s had a fleet of warships along with trained soldiers to protect their interests. The navies of the world cannot do this alone.

Jeff, New York, USA

Jake, London - Shooting on sight is an action of pirates, fools and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Complying with the measured, effective and mature rules of engagement prevents unnecessary deaths.

Good on the Indian navy!

Tom Clark, Cambridge, UK

A job well done, Indian Navy. Feeling so proud of you. Now the world knows, you exists.

R. Gupta, San Francisco,

Bravo Zulu, India and Germany! That's a nice op.

Somalia obviously can't do the job, and its foreign minister gave everybody carte blanche in September regarding anti-pirate operations. This is war, and the pirates should be fair game. Convoys, air cover...and it's all legal. So, navies: do it!

Sandy, Newport News, USA

Hmmm....Out-sourcing again eh! Patl, Denver, USA

Yeah Patl, if the USA did it we'd have 4 liberal newspapers asking why we fired first! Oral threats are not in our ROE to sink a ship at this moment, due to the NYT, etc etc. I told my wife that some one like India would do something, I was right.

Josh, fahaheel, kuwait

Why is everybody so hateful towards the desperate, resourceful, brave Somalis and so sympathetical towards the greedy fat cats stealing millions comfortably in Denmark and Saudi Arabia?

Jo, Asunción, Paraguay

Just because we are black and Muslim it doesn't give you the right to shoot the Islamic Courts' Representatives when they impose a fine which is perfectly legitimate according to Shari'a law. Somalia just has a different way to govern herself, and and it's a shame you infidels can't understand that.

Muhammad, Mogadishu, Somalia

The Indian Navy has over reacted by sinking the mother ship and perhaps maining and killing the pirates, who were only trying to earn a living. It's abuse of their human rights when you dont give them a chance to surrender. A shame on all people who cheared the actions of the Indian Navy

Sam

sam, Auckland, New Zealand

UN should out-source the anti-piracy activities to India, Its military capability is proven and is one of the top 3 biggest navies of the world.

Andrew, London, UK

A better solution could joint patrolling of the area by multi nation navies n then fire the pirate ships as soon as intercepted...........kudos to Indian navy.......

Bharat, Delhi, India

I really find it hard to believe that the militarys of the word can't stop the pirates..Why not put an aircraft carrier or two in the area with sophisticated radar and satellite survallance and blow the pirates out of the water and sink the fleeing smaller boats..Now that would be justified.

Bently Lamar, Charlotte, NC

I recommend the pirate ships to be discreetly sunk by submerged submarines. The navy could always say the pirates probably sank because of poor maintainance. Any surviving pirates could make a claim on their insurance and make a bundle. Come on, pirates, give us a deal.

Karl, Kingston, Jamaica

Hmmm....Out-sourcing again eh!

Patl, Denver, USA

Hey BobbDobb!
it's not a European water and the oil was probably headed for the oil hungry good ole US of A.
Why blame Europe?

jim higgins, toronto, canada

Why not just obliterate the whole damn country and save the rest of the world from a lot of misery?

A Kingsley, winnipeg, canada

To those asking why the merchants aren't armed to protect themselves: prohibitive legal and insurance issues for putting guns in the hands of non-military crews. Insurers won't insure them, and many ports don't allow armed ships to enter.

Greg, London,

how about convoys.................................................. with a naval escort

frank quinn, london, england

Stumypete, "... strongest words the U.N. has at its command may even be required! That should do it."

I would only add that these words should be delivered to the pirates by President elect Obama, afterall he is the one to change the world because he will sit down without pre-conditions.

Ann, Washington, US

Whats so hard about placing a couple heavy machine guns on the stern/bow to repel and /or make unattractive the prospect of boarding which is now done at-will? A couple $M in ransom per ship could certainly buy some decent protection. The navy's in that area are just beginning to go 'proactive' .

Tegularius, Virginia Beach, USA

There should be regular patrols by plane and helicopter in the affected sea regions. There needs to be a universal distress mechanism put in place whereas all merchant vessels can send word when they are under attack and immediately dispatch the patrol helos/planes.

JJ, broomall, pa,

Commercial tankers and cargo ships should be equipped with serious gun turrets fore and aft, port and starboard,and at least a squadron of heavily armed and specially trained Marines. It might also make sense to establish an air corp aware of the shipping lanes & route filed with authorities.

Naimad, Teaneck, NJ, USA

True, but you would think that with some ships carrying millions of dollars in cargo the crew and ship owners have a vested interest in protecting their goods with hiring their own armed security on board in case of attacks.

brian, indianapolis, united states

To Stumypete, washington, d.c., usa:

Lol! That was great! You put a smile on my face that will last the whole day. Thanks.

TomRoberts, tokyo, japan

Its just that the navy ships (Royal navy, German navy and Indian navy) came across these pirate boats, which is a coincidence. There is no guarantee that this will happen always. If the problem has to be eliminated UN has to do something about Somalia itself.

Sam, Melbourne, Australia

I don't understand why cargo ships can't form convoys the same way they did in WW2. Have one or two warships as escorts and arm the cargo ships. I don't understand why this is so difficult to deal with.

Tony, Maine, United States

The problem is not the will, it's the difficulty in patrolling vast swaths of ocean. Naval vessals cannot escort every single merchant ship, they basically have to be in the right place at the right time. Arming merchant ships is probably not practical.

Brad, Seattle, USA

Weakness invites attack.

Joe, bremerton, USA

Here is the solution: Aerial Cap for ships in the problem area, either from land, carrier or helocarrier. Use speed, sensing and standoff weapons to nullify the small boat technique of the pirates. Ships can also contract for temporary onboard or following escorts through the area.

Bob Theriault, Sammamish, United States

The West should deepen it's relationship with India, which is the is the only real democracy [real democracy: where government, at local through national level, changes hands peacefully when voted out by a majority of citizenry ] in the region besides Israel.

Daniel Friedman, New York, USA

What the world needs now is an end to this violence and a series of strongly worded resolutions from the U.N.. If that doesn't work then even more strongly worded resolutions are called for. The strongest words the U.N. has at its command may even be required! That should do it.

Stumypete, washington, d.c., usa

This whole ordeal is quite obviously George Bush's fault.

Obama will save us all with his magic pixie dust!

Jim Taint, Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

Europe has lived off the American taxpayer defense dollar so long they have few capabilities of their own to secure their own neigbhboring waterways.

BobbDobbs, Asu, USA

Boys. Dont get too carried away. The pirates are stealing from the rich and helping the poor, so did Robin Hood en it? He was a hero?

Raj, Delhi, India

The Somali Navy watched reruns of 'McHales Navy' for training. Good for you India! Glad to see someone still has nads in this age of 'warm fuzzy bunnies' and political correctness at all costs. Maybe they can pay a visit to the Carribean next and tweak the Venezuelans next!

Chuck, Atlanta, USA

What would Jack Sparrow do?

Christopher, North Edwards, Ca. ,

It is amusing to read the outrage against Somalian pirates. It wasn't so long ago that England licensed buccaneers so they could loot the commodity of the day...Spanish gold.
Those who ignore the past repeat the past. How was it sorted then?

jim, jeddah, Saudi Arabia

@Condescending Nancy ....1/6th of the worlds maritime traffic is due to that of Indian vessels. The Indian navy is the 6th largest navy in the world despite having a moderately long coastline.

N S, Austin, TX

It is ridiculous that the Indian navy has to pretend to act in self defense, raher than just go ahead and shoot on sight, when these pirates are spotted.
It is even more ridiculous that the german navy chose to chase away attackers rather than engage and kill them.

Jake, lONDON,

Phill and DLL, you guys may be able to read but you don't get it. People are happy about the Indian Navy's actions because they sunk the boat. They didn't just shoot a few pirates, the mothership is underwater. We should sink the mothership that took the Iranian tanker. Let them drink the oil.

Ron, Irvine CA, USA

Great news for freedom and commerce! A larger Indian naval presence is much preferable to a larger Chinese or Russian naval presence. Let us increase cooperation between the US and Indian navies. A democratic India is much more trustworthy than the ruthless Chinese and Russian oligarchies.

carl, Clive, IA, USA

From the Halls of Montezuma, To the Shores of Tripoli...
The U.S. dealt with pirates in that part of the world once, using the only coin that they understood. A new crop of pirates with an almost unlimited field of play. Because, you see, it isn't nice to kill the bad guys any more.

Jubal, Los Alamos, NM, USA

Suzanne, are you serious?

The U.N. doesn't have a navy, so it would be hard for it to patrol anywhere, much less fight off heavily-armed raiders.

They operate with the blessing of their country? Somalia has no government, and no way to stop pirates. Why isn't Somalia raided? Black Hawk Down.

Andrew McNamee, Bethesda MD, USA

I can't believe the cluelessness of these pirates. RPG's vs a Frigate? While an RPG could damage the Frigate (assuming the Frigate gets in range) in a very small way, the rapid fire 3/4.5/5 inch gun would make short work of any "pirate" vessel. This isn't the 1700's where there is weapon parity.

Phil, Limerick, USA

Zero Tolerance should be enforced - No Pirates will live if they pursue to rob and steal. You can hire security for this region on these vessels and blast these speed boats out of the water with 50 caliber machine guns. Or you can require these shipping companies to pay Navies to protect them.

Chris K, Grand Isand, USA

What we need here is the old "German Raider" trick. A war ship made out to look like a cargo ship and let it curse the area and destroy anything which challanges it.

Ken, Fall River, USA

Perhaps it would benefit merchant marine security if we asked ourselves, "what would Putin do"? I do not know the precise anwer, but I am certain that he would not be paying ransom and count it as the cost of doing business. More likely; the pirate home port would be reduce to rubble.

Andrew Zaplatynsky, Manlius, NY,

That 's it Suzanne, Tampa, USA - 'send in the troops!'

Louise , London,

Good for the Indian navy. I don't understand why cargo ships on this route aren't armed to the teeth. It should be policy to fire at will on any threatening ship. That would put an end to the pirate situation. And the world should cheer because they are blocking food/aid to the starving population.

karena, chicago,

President elect Obama would like to sit down and talk with them. Surely they will listen to his reason. Lets gather around the negotiating table, have some popcorn and hot chocolate, and talk of peace. Shame on India for a pre-emptive action!

Tom Martin, Broomall, USA

Why isn't this route patrolled by the U.N.? Why isn't Somali raided and these "pirates" brought to justice? It sounds like they operate with the blessing of their country. If a concentrated effort was made on the seas the pirates could be done away with.

Suzanne, Tampa, USA

Good job INS Tabar.

Mary, Dallas, USA

Captured pirates should be hung.

Suspect vessels, including small boats, that refuse to halt for inspection should receive warning fire once. If they still refuse to halt, they should be disabled by gunfire. If they return fire, they should be considered pirates. Pirate vessels should be sunk.

John Schaefer, Burton, MI, USA

Go India! Well done!

Jessica, Reading, UK

Didn't even know the Indians HAD a Navy. Whatever happened to "From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli"? That referred to the pirates operating out of Africa two hundred years ago, preying on US shipping. History keeps repeating itself.

Nancy, Colorado, USA

Cicero wrote, "the pirate is the enemy of all the world. With him there can be no oath mutually binding." "Rights" are a mutual agreement; pirates choose to forfeit them, so let them die at our hands.

The UK and Indian actions were in self-defence. We need to go aggressively onto the offensive

Michael, London,

All I can say is, "good riddance to that rubbish." Now it's time for the owners of the Sirius Star to hire Blackwater to send a strike force to board the ship by night and execute every last piece of pirate trash aboard that ship.

Matt, Austin, TX, USA

Let me guess. Will it be the bad old USA that has to come in and save everybody's bacon again?

Wonder how much criticism we'll get this time?

Oh, I forgot. We've got Obama now, so it will become a noble thing.

Martinn Winters, Dawsonville, GA, USA

Heh guys,

we've just outsourced this to India.

You know the drill!

Tony, brighton, uk

Well done India!!! You deserve a medal!! Kill the pirates on site!

Harry, London, UK

Well done to the INS Tabar, send a clear message that any pirate threat will not be tolerated, as was highlighted by the British Marines last week.

Shame this latest action does not provoke the same amount of praise, which was rightly being given last week though!

Pala, Birmingham,

Where do I sign up for the Indian Navy?

Charles, Minnesota, USA

I hate to say it, but if the Somali piracy is not brought under control, the other nations may have to inform the Somalis that any boat that floats off their shore is assumed to be pirate and will be sunk with all hands. With no warning or surrender.
The Somalis will scream, but tough..

Chris Ford, Bridgeport, USA

I have no sympathy for the owners of this ship or the cargo.
When normal retail shops on the high street have security guards, it seems incomprehensible that a hugely high value asset like this is not adequately protected by it's own guards in dangerous shipping waters.

David Nammory, Liverpool,

what dribble, the naval powers in the gulf can and would take care of this problem but for the hand wringing by western powers over legalities. if any naval ship confonts any ship that may be a pirate they should stop search and if confirmed destroy same.

joseph, adelphia, usa

Well done India. If it was our ship they would dither about, then invite the pirates for tea and scones, then once on UK territory (the ship) the pirates would claim asylum, costing us a fortune with them in council housing and on UK benefits for life.

Alan, Warrington, England

How difficult would it be to position a missile system with operatives onboard commercial ships.

Richard Hearn, Crawley Down, UK

Did anyone else watch the video above with Martin Fletcher? The excuses have already begun, "the west, sooner or later, is going to have to tackle the root problem, which is the political situation in Somalia." NO EXCUSES, shoot them dead and the problem will go away. Politics are something else.

Bill, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Phill, DLL it is even worse than that, there is a link to the slide show for the story you refer to at the top of the page. People were so quick to criticise the Navy/government they have lost the ability to read!

David, York, UK

Some people here obviously not keeping up with Current Affairs.
The Royal Navy opened fire and killed several pirates last week.

Phill, The Wirral, England

Looking at these comments makes me wonder how aware people are! The Royal Navy attacked and captured pirates only last week and these comments suggest that it went totally unnoticed - even though it was in the Times! So, Chris London, Jake Port Stanley, betty boddington and pip WAKE UP!!!!!!

DLL, Brussels,

The article was a little confusing and the comments were striated - not sure what side you are on. The U.S. Coast Guard has been training folks to deal with these pirates and it looks like it paid off, finally. These "pirates" need to get wiped off the face of the Earth and I have no problem...

Fred Garvin, Vancouver, USA

It's a pity the UK and USA cannot show the same resolve and deal with these modern day pirates in the same way. No doubt PC and all the rest of the excuses for not dealing with them head on will be trotted out as an excuse for inaction to protect legitimate commercial shipping in open waters.

pip, Croydon, uk

Good job the pirates don't operate in our' politically correct ' waters.

Our navy would be shut down immediately if such an atrocity occured.

Surely killing pirates betrays their human rights?

Bet the National Lottery has already allocated funds for lawyers to prosecute the Indian navy!

betty boddington, morecambe, england

well done India!
Showing the British how to deal with pirates.
Piracy is still punishable by death in international law.

jake, Port Stanley,

Bravo, both Indian and German Navy!!!

Very proud of them!!

Sonam, London, England

Well done the INS Tabar, hopefully all of the naval vessels in the area will take the same action.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

The Indian navy is almost as big as the Isle of White navy so it is feared by the civilised world, especially Somalian pirates!
.....GET REAL SHIPMATES!

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire, England

Way to go, INS Tabar!

Sven, Germany,

Looks like the Indians have the guts the Europeans have not. Well done !

Chris, London,

Why don't we send the gun boats in now? It's the only language these people understand.
Piracy on the high seas was wiped out over a hundred years ago and we certainly don't want it to return.

Ken, Orpington, Kent, U.K.

Hurrah for the Indian navy!

Dan, Winchester, England