Dunno,the governments position is that they don't pay ransoms.

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr tis a difficult one

Couldn't they disguise a payment?  

Why would the government pay?  Can you get insured for piracy threats as part of your maritime insurance?

Birds Eye?.


Do hope they're found safe and sound.

I end up in quite dodgy parts of the world sometimes.  When I go on business, I'm terrified at times that I'll be kidnapped simply because I work for a big company who would pay out a ransom.  I'm probably going to rural parts of South Africa early next year and we have to have an armed guard when we're out and about.

I hope they are released safely, but I really don't see why the government should be expected to pay for their release.  They knowingly set sail in one of the most dangerous areas of the world, where piracy is rife.  What on earth were they thinking of?

Seems when they set off from their last port they were warned it was  very dangerous to take the route they took,by other sailors.

If they wanted to go sailing around there then they should have booked with Somali Cruises:


http://www.somalicruises.com/


"I got three confirmed kills on my last trip. I'll never hunt big game in Africa again. I felt like the Komandant in Schindlers list!" -- Lars , Hamburg Germany

I can't understand why they chose to sail there knowing the risks either.

The satellite images show they were sailing in International waters near to the Seychelles. The "coastguards" are claiming they were sailing in Somalian waters and want to "fine" them.
I hope it gets paid somehow and they`re freed soon.

The Monicas.

My thoughts exactly Cinds
But I do hope they are freed unharmed......

Admittedly they have been very stupid,but lets hope they get out of this with their lives.It's going to be a long haul though I suspect.The stress by the end of it all could see them off.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8335810.stm

The latest news.

Quite right too.  When you're abroad and get into trouble, the government only provides consular help, and possibly a telephone.  Why should ransoms be any different to, say, losing all your money or having an accident or needing repatriation.  Harsh but true, I think.  The government would be bailing out everyone, and loads of people would be taken hostage.

No way should the Government pay - they chose to take the risk to sail in dangerous waters - unfortunately at the risk of sounding harsh they have no-one but themselves to blame!!!

This is such a hard one,  they where warned they where going into pirate waters they chose to ignore that ('how dare they)but at the end of the day,we need to protect there safety as caring human beings.      But who pays the bill???.

Exactly the point I was going to make.

We pay one ransom, we would be expected to pay them all = kidnappings would increase.

Having said that, I hope they are freed unharmed - it must be a living hell for their families.