I recently wrote and article about the rise in the amount of pirate ship attacks on sea freight ships off the coast of Somali. The bad news is that the problem just seems to be getting worse by the week and people’s patience is growing thin. I wondered, how hard can it be to avoid a pirate ship attack, I mean, you’re on a massive cargo ship and surely you can just pull out a few pieces of heavy artillery and blow them away as soon as they come within a few hundred yards of you?

Alas, it seems the pirate ships are prepared for anything and have heavy artillery of their own which they threaten to use should you not follow their instructions. Here are some of the tactics they use and some of the tactics that cargo ship crews have been trained to use in defending themselves and their cargo form these pirates…

Tactics used by the pirates:

Pirate ships are well equipped with rocket launchers, speedboats and satellite navigation equipment. Their primary goal is to get their ships within shooting range of a cargo ship, contact the ship and threaten to open fire if their demands aren’t met. In order to possess this power, they need to get within 200 – 300 meters of the cargo ship. Once in this range, they approach the ships in smaller speedboats which they use to transport cargo quickly and effectively.

So how can cargo ships avoid being attacked?

The primary form of defense is to spot the pirate’s ships before they get to near. Once a pirate ship has been spotted, the cargo ship is in a position to alert the closest navy and take evasive action by speeding up and getting their crew prepared for a possible attack.

Cargo ships are advised to travel at least 600 nautical miles off the coast to ensure that they do not cross the path of any pirate ships. Crew and captains are well trained in defending a ship without the use of lethal force. Their ships are protected by barbed wire around the parameter of the ship which helps stop pirates from boarding.

If ships are caught out, they are advised to increase their speed in order to create choppiness around the ship which makes it difficult for speedboats to get too close to the ships. This can sometimes be effective if a pirate ship does get within range and enable its speedboats to get even closer.

Despite the fact that many South African cargo ships are already making use of armed guards on board their ships, maritime orginisations have advised them to leave armed attack to the navies that patrol the pirate ship hotspots.

A recent invention called a LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) is a non-lethal form of defense. This mechanism invented by American Technology Corporation (ATO) has the ability to warn off pirates who are not responding to radio warnings. The device is able to disorient pirate ships and avoid them from coming too close to a cargo ship by letting off what can be best described as a sonic boom in the direction of the pirates. This is a piece of equipment that has been used in the past to control large crowds who are out of control.

The fact is that despite these well drilled efforts that have been instilled in captains and ship crew, many a pirate ship is still ruling the seas around Somali. Something needs to be done soon in order to deter them. Until then, let’s just hope all the ships passing the area are well prepared and manage to avoid any financial or more importantly, physical damage.

Guest post by Borra Garson

I have represented Tom Kime a number of years now and I have to say the man is truly a gentleman.  That he has survived the abusiveness of a number of kitchens over the years is only testament to his willingness and ability to succeed in one of the toughest careers a person can choose.  Following his training experience he vowed to himself long ago never to treat people the way he had occasionally been treated himself, so the only thing he’ll swear at is inanimate objects like eggs, and never people.  And there’s a difference – think on the one hand about Tom swearing at the omelette, then recall a scene from one of Gordon’s more angry TV episodes and you’ll get what I mean.  It’s the latter type of swearing that makes me uncomfortable.

Chefs swear.  They swear all the time and sometimes to a degree that it borders on an art form.  Yes it was inappropriate of Tom to swear on Saturday Kitchen, BBC’s Saturday morning show, and he knows children watch the show.  He is deeply remorseful about this and fully accepts that he won’t be back on the show ever again.  It’s a great shame, as Tom is a very talented chef whose specialty is Asian cuisine and world street food.  He is a rare master of spice blending and taste combining and makes all those delicious dishes that seem so foreign and difficult to achieve.  Try his books, Asian Bites or Street Food published by Dorling Kindersley to learn his secrets.  Or for more general seafood recipes, his latest book was a labour of love, entitled Fish Tales and published by Kyle Cathie. Tom wanted to write a book about sustainable fisheries – perhaps not a sexy topic but one that is close to his heart.

Currently based in Australia, Tom works between London and Sydney and has always enjoyed working with the Saturday Kitchen team.  It seems the BBC are making an example of him, as a stick to shake at various other BBC faces who let slip the occasional swear word.  Bad news for Tom, but bad news too for television foodie fans like me.

As if an earthquake coupled with enormous devastation wasn’t enough, ongoing problems and serious health issues continue to plague the island of Haiti. The latest life threatening problem to hit the residents of the island is the shortage of portable toilets, resulting in serious health risks as people are forced to defecate anywhere and everywhere. What does this mean for the island and what is being done to help out in this area? Let’s take a look…

The threat of deadly diseases spread by a shortage in portable toilets is immense on the island at this stage. Diseases such as diarrhea can become life threatening in a place where the problem is constant and ongoing. At the moment, people are forced to defecate where they are living and this has left a terrible stench in the air wherever one goes. Relief agencies have done their best to sweep waste away from camps, or burn the waste in an effort to minimize the spread of disease, but there is simply just not enough man power.

At one stage, there was only one portable toilet available to 10 000 residents of a particular area. Obviously, this would never suffice. Nearby however, army camps have dozens of portable chemical toilets for soldiers where numbers are far fewer.

Residents of one particular camp who did not have a single portable chemical toilet, had the foresight to go to the top of a hill away from their camp to defecate. However overnight rainfall washed down most of the human waste that had accumulated at the top of the hill, leaving residents to either live in their own waste or find somewhere nearby to move to, which is unfortunately not a luxury available to many Haitians at the moment.

Unfortunately, with much more urgent matters having posed an initial threat to the residents, such as shelter and food, the thought of sanitation was severely delayed. 6 weeks later however, the lack of portable toilets could result in thousands more dead if not immediately addressed. With the rainy season fast approaching and the fact that over a million people are currently residing in relief camps that have been set up, the need for outdoor portable toilets is becoming an emergency.

The target is to acquire at least 9000 portable toilets from the UK, the US and any other countries able to assist. These toilets will need to be implemented within the next few weeks before the rainy season hits the island.

It is an extremely sad situation as we all know, but without the implementation of more sanitary equipment, it could become a lot worse. Often people think about the shortage in clothes, shelter and money to the island, things like portable toilets rarely cross our minds. Let’s hope the issue gets sorted out before any further damage is done.

If you are like me and prefer to follow sailing events and news rather than participate in them, then here are a few events, news snippets and course information for RYA sailing related highlights that have just occurred or are about to happen in the sailing world.

RYA Volvo Dinghy Show 2010:

The RYA Volvo Dinghy show has just left our UK shores and what a show it was! Thousands of dinghy enthusiasts as well as RYA sailing novices flocked to Alexandra Palace in London in order to see what was new in the world of training and sailing. The Dinghy Show has always been known as an event that caters for the whole family as well as professionals and beginners alike. The show offered a variety of RYA related highlights including talks by professional RYA instructors and sailing schools as well as an expo that showcased a variety of dinghies and RYA sailing equipment. This event is one of a kind as it is the only expo that is dedicated to Dinghy boats and RYA sailing. If you missed out of the show, visit the RYA website for details.

RYA Youth National Championships:

Set to take place from the 5th to the 9th of April, this RYA event is the ultimate in youth sailing, giving young sailors the opportunity to spread their wings and compete in the sport that they love. Entry to the race is open to all sailors under 21 years old and this even is a great way to encourage young sailors to take part in an RYA event and extend their knowledge of the sailing industry.

RYA Club of the Year for 2010:

And the winner is…Exe sailing club! This club was given the privilege of being named the RYA sailing club of the year at the RYA Dinghy Show. Situated in Devon, this club won the honours owing to the fact they constantly encourage individuals to get out on the water and try sailing as well as providing people with a safe, friendly and enjoyable RYA sailing experience. Exe Sailing Club was extremely proud to be named RYA sailing Club of the Year and said that they “still can’t quite believe it.” What a great attribute for this sailing club that focuses on RYA courses.

Reports show that more people are taking up sailing:

2009 was a good year for sailing, it seems. According to research, more individuals took up sailing as a sport or a leisurely activity in 2009 than previous years. A survey conducted by British Marine Federation, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal Yachting Association revealed that 3.7 million adults participated in  RYA sailing and regular sailing events and courses in the UK alone. There has also been an increase in casual participation as well as women participating in the sport.

As we see the UK move slowly into warmer months, RYA sailing is yet again increasing. If you are interested in RYA fast track or rather some more relaxed RYA plain sailing, my advice would be to get involved now or risk being left out in the cold.

South West Four 2010 is slowly but surely edging closer, and the organisers are continuing to sporadically drop names, details and other bombs, which collectively suggest that this year’s event will be the best yet.

The festival returns to Clapham Common this year for the sixth time. Clubbers and dance junkies will be delighted to know that the event has gained an extra day, making 2010 the debut of the South West Four Weekender. More time, more acts, more party!

The dance music spectacular will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend on 28 and 29 August. Eight arenas, loads of bars and food stalls, and fairground rides will combine to create a 48 hours of foot-stomping, crowd-crazy euphoria, enough to satisfy even the most hardcore party people.

There is nothing common about Clapham Common, the ideal venue for such an event. The open-air outdoor green space allows perfectly sets the scene for a large scale dance extravaganza, but the inner city location means that festival-goers will be able to catch the last tube home, or stay in one of the nearby hotels. The organisers of South West Four have struck various deals for cheap accommodation with hotels in the area (if you own a Clapham property you may want to jump on the bandwagon).

Perhaps the most exciting news released so far is the head-lining act. Following in the footsteps of dance royalty Carl Cox, Paul van Dyk, and John Digweed, Armin van Buuren will make his one and only London appearance for 2010 when he closes the Saturday session of South West Four.

Voted the planet’s most popular DJ for three years running according to DJ Mag’s Top 100, Armin van Buuren will spoil the South West Four crowd with tracks off the new album he plans to release around the same time.

The Sunday event will be no less explosive as the closing set will be performed by none other than the legendary Fatboy Slim, who of course needs no introduction or further explanation.

Early bird tickets for South West Four 2010 go on sale this Friday, and it is definitely not to be missed.

Ronnie Wood: guitarist for one of the most defined bands in musical history, this Rolling Stones musician is a rock star in his own right. But with fame comes scandal, and Woods has had his fare share of public upsets over the years. Recently, the once vibrant rocker has attempted to sell his Chelsea home and it seems that he is in quite a hurry to do so. Even with the unstable current property market trends, Wood’s Chelsea home is up for sale – and the asking price is a considerable amount less than he bought it for.

Ronnie Wood never ceases to be a current source of news for UK tabloids as it seems the glam rock idol is always getting himself into trouble. After a string of ex wife’s and young lovers, Wood has finally cleaned up his act and sources claim that he has indeed been sober for over a month after extensive and numerous rehabilitation visits. The next step in Wood’s life is the selling of his Chelsea townhouse, one of his numerous homes around the UK. The Chelsea property is currently on the market for a whopping £5.875m and even though this amount sounds astronomical to some, the home is selling at more than a million pound loss.

The home situated in the heart of Chelsea in West London, was purchased by Wood before he and his last wife permanently split and it is expected that he is set to lose £1.375m when the house is finally sold. Wood’s has not had the home for very long and sources say that now that the market is recovering, he hopes to sell it as quickly as it was bought by him. Chelsea still remains one of the top selling and most expensive areas in London, with many purchasing their home properties for millions of pounds.

This Chelsea townhouse is no small property, with the fairly new home boasting features such as five bedrooms, four bathrooms and well over 4 200 square feet of space.  What makes this home unique is the fact that there is more space below the Chelsea property that can be used for more entertainment areas and rooms. Wood intended to expand on the townhouse and began the renovations but never completed them. Chelsea Property agents claim that the home is intended for an individual who has a keen eye for refurbishment and renovation and is willing to take on a project that will result in a bigger and better home.

Chelsea estate agents say that the famous guitarists West London property has taken quite a while to gain interest owing to the unstable market but as the property industry recovers, more individuals will take interest in the home. Ronnie Wood’s Chelsea home is most definitely a project that has to be grasped with both hands and if the right individual comes along and is willing to take it on, this charming townhouse could be turned into a property dream.

If you think Paddington Bear is a has-been character from the 50’s, my friend you are dead wrong! Although children of today are more likely to be watching Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers doing whatever it is they do on the Disney Channel, it is somewhat of a comfort to know that there is still a healthy subscription to the quaint and more innocent old school

In recent times Paddington has been quite the busy bee. He is the inspiration for a musical spectacular by the Cascade Symphony Orchestra, which debuted last Saturday at the Edmonds Center for the Arts in Washington, USA. The anthropomorphised bear has been constantly liaising with creatives behind the project to ensure his core values of politeness and ‘trying hard to get things right’ are accurately represented in this musical adaptation of his life.

Paddington Bear, or Paddington Brown as he is properly called, was also the official patron of The World’s Original Marmalade Festival, which took place over Valentine’s Day weekend at Dalemain Mansion and Gardens in Cumbria. Paddington’s well-documented affinity for marmalade sandwiches made him the natural choice for the face of the festival. The event celebrates the age-old British institution that is marmalade, inviting passionate marmalade-makers to enter their produce in any of several categories, with all proceeds going to Hospice at Home, a dedicated nursing service which provides care to terminally ill people.

In another charitable venture Paddington has collaborated with a multitude of other animated celebrities, such as Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, Spongebob Square Pants and the Teletubbies, to form an Animated All Star Band, which is set to record a medley of familiar songs with some fresh lyrics to raise funds for the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal. Our favourite duffel-coated friend is also the figurehead for Action Medical Research.

Paddington, the real thing. Photo by Paddington, the real thing.Photo by brianandjaclyn on Flikr.

Despite his extensive philanthropic work, Paddington should not be confused for a saint, as he has been involved in his fair share of controversy. Fans were outraged when their hero appeared in a Marmite commercial, accusing him of selling out. In a letter to The Times Paddington’s boss and original creator Michael Bond quelled rumours that Paddington had abandoned his signature favourite preserve: “I have to report that although Paddington found the sandwich interesting, bears are creatures of habit,” he said.

Paddington is as loved today as he was 50 years ago when he first immigrated from darkest Peru. Upon arrival he considered going to see a Paddington estate agent, until the Brown family offered to house him for free, where he has lived ever since. Paddington bear books, toys and DVDs will continue to enthrall children for many years to come.

Health and safety in the construction industry is already under a very big metaphorical microscope thanks to 2009 being one of the worst years for health and safety statistics in the industry’s history. The continuation of the recession into 2010 has caused experts to question whether or not companies will be able to do anything to rectify this issue due to a lack of time and money.

Mactavish, a research firm specialising in commercial risk and insurance has recently voiced their concern about the cut in UK health and safety budgets of many a construction company. Health and safety management as well as providing workers with the correct safety clothing such as work shoes could be overlooked due to cuts in the relevant budgets. One would be surprised at what a difference it makes when men wear the correct shoes and women are provided with appropriate ladies footwear.

The report stated that: “At least some knock-on impact on site practice compliance and injury incidence must be expected.”

The UK Contractors group (UKCG) did not react fondly to the statements made by Mactavish, saying that they were definitely not planning on cutting any corners when it came to health and safety at work:

John Spanswick, chairman of Bovis Lend Lease, commented that: “We are not planning to spend less on health and safety and will continue to invest in the future. Health and safety policy is not simply about budgets it is about commitment and attitude. UKCG members remain committed to a pro-active health and safety agenda that builds and develops on the progress over the last ten years.”

Apart from the possible budget cuts of construction health and safety, another factor which could affect the industry is that fact that many companies are going into joint ventures in an effort to win bigger contracts. This could often result in one or more companies winning contracts for jobs that are slightly out of their area of expertise, which results in major health and safety regulations being overlooked. This was worded in Macvitish’s document as “Contractors are now routinely winning bids they’re not qualified to do.”

Let’s hope the Macvitish report is proven wrong by the UK construction industry and that 2010 health and safety statistics show an improvement compared to a terrible 2009.

Words cannot effectively convey the experience of driving along a South African national road in a car with three of your best friends, eating chip rolls and blaring music that you will forever associate with this time and place, while laughing and talking excitedly of the amazing adventure you’re about to have.

Through the rolled down windows you can see the wild terrain, perhaps dotted with buck, or sheep or ostrich. There are some other cars and trucks on the road, but it’s an exhilarating relief from the sluggish city traffic you’re accustomed to. You take silly snapshots of yourselves pulling faces and distracting the driver; you put your feet up on the dashboard in front of you; you prepare yourself for the good times ahead.

You do not prepare yourself for the loud and deliberate crack that suddenly and rudely disrupts the good vibe. The driver curses loudly, and all eyes are drawn to a chip in the windshield – the mark left by a small stone that has shot up inexplicably, with forceful and damaging impact.

The passengers sit in silence, the expressions on their faces growing steadily more horrified as the crack slowly, but one hundred percent surely, begins to spread across the auto glass.

It happened to me, and it could happen to you. So here are some things you need to know about how to handle this horrific and potentially holiday-destroying situation should you ever find yourself confronted with it:

- Do not panic! Unlike side windows, windscreens are generally made of laminated safety glass, which means they will not shatter on impact.

- To be safe you should immediately contact a reliable auto glass repair service, and explain the details of the incident so that they can advise you on the best course of action.

- Note that you will still be able to drive the car if the crack is not obstructing the driver’s vision (which means you won’t have to cancel your booking at the backpackers or miss the music festival!).

- You should, however, see to the damage as soon as possible. A cracked windscreen should be replaced as it may cause your roof to collapse in the event of an accident, but chips can be repaired as long as they do not develop into cracks.

- Damage to a windscreen by a stone or other hard object is usually completely accidental and no one’s fault. If you are insured it is likely that you’re covered for the cost of repairs. So don’t spend the rest of your holiday trembling with fear at having to tell your parents.

Now go and enjoy that holiday!

And now for some tabloidism…

Are you looking to buy a house? I heard of a sweet deal that might be coming up on a Chelsea property. No, not a house or flat in the upmarket London borough, known for swanky restaurants and fashionable night clubs – a different type.

By Chelsea property I mean the million pound mansion currently owned by John Terry. The disgraced former English football captain has been the centre of a media storm over the past few weeks, initially for his sexual transgression and dicey moral conduct, and more recently for speculation around his financial stability.

These latest rumours emerged last week when it came to light that the mortgage on his mansion, located in Oxshott, Surrey near Chelsea FC’s training ground, is nearly double the original price of the property. Terry purchased the extravagant house for £2.25 million back in 2003, but last year he took out a mortgage to the value of £3.95 million.

It doesn’t add up or make sense…which it should since a professional footballer of his stature earns around £170,000 per week. Terry’s agent, in attempting to dispel the allegations of heavy debt, said that the player (of football and women) applied for the mortgage merely to benefit from the high interest rate and support other property investments.

This statement has failed to satisfy sceptics who maintain that the shamed sports star suffers from a heavy gambling addiction. Friends of Terry insist that his gambling is under control, and that he pays his bookmaker in full every month.

Despite these troubled times the Chelsea captain seems to have the support of his wife, Toni, who has chosen to stick by her man and fight for their marriage. The couple looked decidedly happy when they landed back in London last week. They returned from Dubai where Toni went to escape the paparazzi frenzy after news of her husband’s infidelity first broke.

In conclusion, two observations:

1. It is a sad day for our society and modern culture. We idolise film and sports stars, thriving on every detail of their activities, to the point that they begin to conceive of themselves as extraordinary people. Up on those pedestals they feel special and untouchable, and well within their rights to do whatever they please without a thought for the repercussions. We are not to blame, but we do need to find other things to obsess over.

2. If you are looking to invest it’s probably safer to go for an actual Chelsea property. Although it is a very nice mansion…