They've dropped it to that.??? Tesco points..ROFL...

Seriously though, it's a tricky one this. If the Government pay up it leaves others more open to ransom demands.....not pleasant at all, but why sail in dodgy waters anyway??

I agree DID. Those waters are well known for piracy, so why on earth did these people go sailing there? I feel sorry for their families but I don`t really know what the Government can do.

I know it's awful but you think of people being able to sail around the world as being wealthy, and now they're begging the Government and the public for money...though I'm sure the family could raise £50k between them.....it really is a difficult one, the Government give in and it leaves them wide open....if they don't and the worst should happen, they have blood on their hands....terrible...

Dammed if they do and dammed if they don`t.

Why the hell would you go sailing where there are pirates? I don't think the government should pay

Exactly Cagney, and they probably are just normal folks, but you have this idea that they must be wealthy if they can afford to sail around the world at their leisure. Sadly that makes people a little less sympathetic....

You don't just get a boat, stick a pin in a map and go sailing.  You plan it. Somebody has to pay the ransom and yeah I agree with DID.....poor people can't just sail off for months at their leisure. I'm sure if the family sold some of their assets they could pay the now reduced £50,000 ransom

Just watched it on the news,how awful for them and their families.It seems these "Pirates" run this like a business...give us some dosh and we will leave your cargo ships etc alone9IT SEEMS THE BIGGER COMPANIES PAY UP).Now they have picked on a couple who do not have finance or business behind them.

Hopefully this might in their favour,if,God forbid they kill them,then the big companies and their insurers might baulk.

Why were this couple sailing in pirate waters though Katty? It's not like sailing off the coast of Scotland. They MUST have looked up where they were going.

Their story must be worth £50k.

It's a nightmare situation for them and their families. When the news first broke I wondered why the pirates didn't just take their boat and sell it as it looked as if it was worth a lot of money.

The 'pirate waters' are growing, Cagney!

The Seychelles are fair game now, it seems.

although I feel for them and what their families are going through, they should have known what danger they were risking,  as many a yachtsman has said sice the story broke.......a lot of the blame is on their shoulders, but I do hope they come out alive

Cagney, I don't think they were in "Recognised" pirate waters.They maybe though they were "safe".I t seems these "Pirates "are now roaming further afield,with high powered boats,no doubt paid for by their ill gotten gains.

They weren't sailing round the Med. They must have known the dangers. I googled for 2 mins just now and found info on the connection between Mumbai and Somalia and the pirate activity going back years. We're talking about desperate people who will do anything for money. I do wish they they come out of this alive but I can't sit back and not think how bloody stupid they were/are to go sailing there in the first place. Should our government and ultimately you and I pay for their stupidity?

Oh, I'd never pay kidnappers (until they had my relatives, of course) - only encourages more kidnapping!

I'd have a line of warships, all the way round Somali waters and fire on sight.

Wot Blizzie said

I don't think the government should pay.  If I broke a leg up a mountain in the Himalayas then the government wouldn't pay to airlift me out of danger.  I'd have to pay myself, though insurance or selling assets.  Perhaps the government could provide the guarantee or loan it in the first instance.  It's very unfortunate for the couple but crap happens.

Sad as it is, it's not the government's job to pay off these pirates. It is up to the family to raise the money.....probably through an advance from the press.

Governments should do what Blizzie and Essie said...but paid for by the big businesses that regularly use these waters

That's the solution Kaytee  

I just read somewhere that there was a British warship in the vicinity that saw the pirates lift the couple from their yacht...and did nothing

Thanks

Whereas the French aren't very good at playing Football by the rules, I do admire their gunboat diplomacy.

I`m with you Kaytee and retsina

Scottykins

Shooting a hostage?

Just send the boys in

It's a risky business isn't it?  But how long are people prepared to pay up to these terrorists? For that is surely what they are.

i don't know how it would be done, but the hostage takers need to understand they've made a mistake and there is no millions.