Dave Gittins
Member
For what appears to be the first time, pirates have attacked a cruise liner, using guns and RPGs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4409662.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4409662.stm
Pirates attack cruise liner
- Thread starter Dave Gittins
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Dave Gittins
Member
Seabourn Spirit is owned by Cunard and is registered in the Bahamas. She is 9,000 GRT and 133.81 metres LOA. She has berths for 212 passengers.
Paul Rogers
Member
Darren Honeycutt
Member
I just wonder why a cruise ship would navigate in an area where things like this happen. This area off the coast of Africa is supposedly a very unsafe place to be.
Jim Kalafus
Member
>I just wonder why a cruise ship would navigate in an area where things like this happen.
Probably because something similar to this has not happened to a cruise ship since the Achille Lauro incident, and without constant reenforcement it is easy to develop an "it hasn't happened in a while" false sense of security. Witness the progression between Air India, Lockerbie and 9/11/01.
Probably because something similar to this has not happened to a cruise ship since the Achille Lauro incident, and without constant reenforcement it is easy to develop an "it hasn't happened in a while" false sense of security. Witness the progression between Air India, Lockerbie and 9/11/01.
Ernie Luck
Member
It's received a bit of publicity in the UK Sunday papers and TV news programmes. Apparently there is on average one incident a day affecting mostly Cargo vessels - some providing food relief to the area.
The cruise ship is fitted with Hi-tech laser sonic equipment capable of delivering a blast of hot air and tremendous noise. Same as fitted to American warships operating in the area to ward off potential terrorist attack from small boats.
The cruise ship is fitted with Hi-tech laser sonic equipment capable of delivering a blast of hot air and tremendous noise. Same as fitted to American warships operating in the area to ward off potential terrorist attack from small boats.
Michael H. Standart
Member
>>Apparently there is on average one incident a day affecting mostly Cargo vessels <<
That's because a cargo vessel with a small crew is easier pickings if they can be caught by surprise. Cruise ships still represent a very tempting target if only because the Bad Guys can get more goodies and possibly hostages to ransom that way...if the attack is successful.
That's because a cargo vessel with a small crew is easier pickings if they can be caught by surprise. Cruise ships still represent a very tempting target if only because the Bad Guys can get more goodies and possibly hostages to ransom that way...if the attack is successful.
Dave Gittins
Member
Seabourn Spirit is quite small and has a relatively small crew. She's marketed as a "mega yacht". Her passengers are generally wealthy and she'd be a tempting target.
They've now found an unexploded RPG round inside the ship. Somebody from the USN is attending to it.
They've now found an unexploded RPG round inside the ship. Somebody from the USN is attending to it.
Paul Rogers
Member
"The cruise ship is fitted with Hi-tech laser sonic equipment capable of delivering a blast of hot air and tremendous noise."
Click here for an article on this device.
Click here for an article on this device.
Michael H. Standart
Member
At 150db, if that thing didn't help drive these guys off, it would have to be bacause they were stone deaf. Note also that the ship took som other actions too, such as going to high speed.
James Smith
Member
An interesting tidbit from today's Salt Lake Tribune:
"[A passenger named] Mahood said she learned at dinner the next night that the captain was not fooled by a ruse that could have spelled even greater trouble.
"'He got a Mayday from a fishing boat' claiming they were under attack from pirates, Mahood said. But identification information from the 'ship in distress' did not match information available to the captain and he declined to respond.
"'It was going to be a trick, is what it was going to be,' Mahood said. 'It was going to be a bigger ship we had to deal with. But when he didn't go back to help them, these two boats showed up . . . launched from the boat that was calling.'"
Full article at http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3193435.
--Jim
"[A passenger named] Mahood said she learned at dinner the next night that the captain was not fooled by a ruse that could have spelled even greater trouble.
"'He got a Mayday from a fishing boat' claiming they were under attack from pirates, Mahood said. But identification information from the 'ship in distress' did not match information available to the captain and he declined to respond.
"'It was going to be a trick, is what it was going to be,' Mahood said. 'It was going to be a bigger ship we had to deal with. But when he didn't go back to help them, these two boats showed up . . . launched from the boat that was calling.'"
Full article at http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3193435.
--Jim
Dave Gittins
Member
Here's some more on the fiendish device, including a photo.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4418748.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4418748.stm
Noel F. Jones
Member
So...
All you need's a set of ear protectors and you can carry on pirating!
Time was when the Royal Navy would have swept these people from the seas.
Noel
All you need's a set of ear protectors and you can carry on pirating!
Time was when the Royal Navy would have swept these people from the seas.
Noel
Michael H. Standart
Member
>>Time was when the Royal Navy would have swept these people from the seas. <<
Yep...and they had a very direct way of doing it: Catch and/or sink the pirate ships and hang the survivors. Not surprisingly, in due course, they ran out of pirates to hang.
Too bad this fine old custom has fallen into disrepute!
Yep...and they had a very direct way of doing it: Catch and/or sink the pirate ships and hang the survivors. Not surprisingly, in due course, they ran out of pirates to hang.
Too bad this fine old custom has fallen into disrepute!
monica e. hall
Member
My sister recently suggested to me that we took a cruise, not on a normal cruise liner, but with a French merchant line which carries a few passengers (under 30). Apparently you can go places, drop off for a few days, and then pick up the next boat from the line coming in, in a week or so, and then continue etc. Decent food (French), and amenities like a library, cinema and swimming pool, plus more contact with the crew etc. A different experience, and one which I thought sounded very attractive.
My rather older sister (aged 64) seemed to find very attractive the information that they frequently sailed in pirate-infested waters, blacked out the ship, docked at dead of night - and (to quote her) "everyone on board is armed to the teeth when danger approaches..."
Me: "What? Even the passengers?"
Jen: "I don't know, it sounds like it."
Me: "Not sure how useful I'd be in a fire fight. Maybe they'll give me a machine gun; more chance of my hitting something?"
She seems very keen. Obviously a desire for adventure kicking in in her dotage. Personally, I'd rather assemble in the centre of the ship secure in the knowledge they had that acoustic device to deploy.
I just don't think I'd be much use in repelling boarders. Being forced to leave my drink, a promising hand in 3-card Brag etc., in order to take up arms and do my bit. Prepared to take the chance, though, I think.
Don't all you killjoys even dare to tell me it never happens ....
My rather older sister (aged 64) seemed to find very attractive the information that they frequently sailed in pirate-infested waters, blacked out the ship, docked at dead of night - and (to quote her) "everyone on board is armed to the teeth when danger approaches..."
Me: "What? Even the passengers?"
Jen: "I don't know, it sounds like it."
Me: "Not sure how useful I'd be in a fire fight. Maybe they'll give me a machine gun; more chance of my hitting something?"
She seems very keen. Obviously a desire for adventure kicking in in her dotage. Personally, I'd rather assemble in the centre of the ship secure in the knowledge they had that acoustic device to deploy.
I just don't think I'd be much use in repelling boarders. Being forced to leave my drink, a promising hand in 3-card Brag etc., in order to take up arms and do my bit. Prepared to take the chance, though, I think.
Don't all you killjoys even dare to tell me it never happens ....
