Al-Qaida feared targeting superships, page 1
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Topic started on 17-11-2009 @ 02:40 PM by tristar
Confirmed: North Korea has provided sophisticated mines


LONDON – Agents for the British intelligence agency say they have established that Kim Jong-il's regime in North Korea has supplied al-Qaida with sophisticated limpet mines they fear will be used against a "ghost fleet" of 500-plus ships and superships, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

The agents, working in Asia to monitor the latest exchange of gunfire between North Korean and South Korean warships, have reported such an attack would have a disastrous effect on London's shipping insurance market – with the potential of being far larger than the losses in last year's market crash.

The fleet, larger than the combined navies of the U.S. and Britain, is anchored in one of the world's least accessible waterways: the remote Johor Coast at the southern tip of Malaysia.

Fifty miles east of Singapore, it also is close to Indonesia, the launching point, MI6 agents say, for the next attack by al-Qaida terrorists.

The value of the fleet is in the billions of dollars. But in their equatorial backwater they generally are guarded by only a handful of sailors, often armed with no more than a pistol or rifle to ward off any attack.


This has obviously past through the media channels without the hype, having so many ships aligned for a turkey shoot is simply provocative to say the least. Think of how fast the U.K. and the U.S. would swing into action against any nation they seem fit to be dealt with. Could this spark another global economic meltdown, it sure as hell can.

www.wnd.com...


reply posted on 18-11-2009 @ 12:31 AM by tristar
reply to post by Drunkenshrew


I agree with you here, but a simple what if is in the works. I do not mean it could happen now, tomorrow but in the not too distant future when the time is right. Lets face it, having the two international nations parking their cargo maritime armada of a coast without protection in a not so friendly environment is not what i call good strategy. Then again this could all be a global insurance fraud case waiting to happen and at the same time insist on military action through the use of coalition forces against an enemy which has not been fully accepted by the world leaders.

"Kill two birds with one stone"


reply posted on 18-11-2009 @ 01:29 AM by Drunkenshrew
reply to post by tristar

I believe the area is a traditional waiting point for container ships. In 2002 I spent a holiday in New Zealand. The flight stopped at Singapore. As the plane approached the airport, it flew about 15 minutes over countless gigantic ships. Very impressive sight.



I believe many shipowners can't afford to move their freighters to a safer area.

Wikipedia - Baltic Dry Index
Impact of 2008 financial crisis

On 20 May 2008 the index reached its record high level since its introduction in 1985, reaching 11,793 points. Half a year later, on 5 December 2008, the index had dropped by 94%, to 663 points, the lowest since 1986.[8], though by 4 February 2009 it had recovered a little lost ground, back to 1,316.[9]

These low rates moved dangerously close to the combined operating costs of vessels, fuel, and crews.[10][11] By the end of 2008, shipping times had been already increased by reduced speeds to save fuel consumption, but lack of credit meant the reduction of letters of credit, historically required to load cargoes for departure at ports. Debt load of future ship construction was also a problem for shipping companies, with several major bankruptcies and implications for shipyards.[12][13]

This, combined with the collapsing price of raw commodities created a perfect storm for the world's marine commerce. By October of 2009 the index had recovered to around 2,900, a level that is more historically normal.


Let's hope no one causes trouble.


reply posted on 18-11-2009 @ 02:09 AM by spellbound
reply to post by tristar


OK, f North Korea which has always been an a-hole of a country.

Second line is f North Korea.


reply posted on 18-11-2009 @ 03:15 AM by tristar
reply to post by ANNED


I guess your not too familiar with shipping and its effects on the global market. Have you ever considered why the cost of goods goes up when oil goes up. Simply because the cost of transporting rises and the cost falls upon the consumer due to the logistics involved. A quick summary of the billions involved in shipping.

Shipping Companies Sized By Market Capitalization

Shipping Companies Sized By Market Capitalization
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