How do Somallian pirates board ships?

Was in a conversation with a friend about acts of piracy off east Africa and he brought up a point I never thought of or heard mentioned.



The merchant ships are about 35,000 tons over 300 feet in length going at 20 knots creating a huge white water bow wave. Along come these pirates in a 30 foot Boston Whaler or something similar. The deck of the merchant ship towers 25 feet over the pirates.



How do the pirates get the merchant ship to stop and then how do the pirates get aboard the merchant ship?How do Somallian pirates board ships?
Atahaulpa covered it. Unless the person on watch sees the pirates trying to board and that can be hard in the dark, they get aboard easily. The real question is whether the ships crews should be authorised under international law to use deadly force to prevent being boarded such as firearms, diesel fuel dumped on the boarders or similar. remember that these scum are firing AK47's and RPG's at ships and their crews. Captains and crews should adopt the rule; "You fire at me and try to kill me, I will kill you back!" Some ships are now mounting high pressure hoses along the decks to use against the criminals but I believe if guns and rockets are being fired at the ship they should fire the same back at their motor boats and that applies to the naval ships out there. Fire on them! The other thing that needs to be addressed are the 'King Pins' behind these attacks. The UN should be undertaking surgical strikes against the land bases of the criminals. Adopt a hard line and it will become very unfashionable to become a pirate!How do Somallian pirates board ships?
After moving their little boat up to the side of the ship, they throw ropes with grappling hooks up to snag on the side of the ship. They climb up the ropes carrying machine guns on their back. Once a few of them get aboard they seize the ship.