This Venezuelan Patrol Ship Sunk Itself After Ramming A Cruise Liner With A Reinforced Hull

The War Zone ^ | April 1, 2020 | By Joseph Trevithick

[PIF]

In what sounds like it could be an April Fools joke, a Venezuelan Navy offshore patrol vessel recently sank after ramming a cruise liner in the Caribbean Sea. The cruise ship, which had no passengers on board at the time and has a reinforced hull to sail through ice-filled waters, suffered only minimal damage in what the operating company, Columbia Cruise Services, has called an "act of aggression ... in international waters."

The incident occurred in the early hours of Mar. 30, 2020, but Columbia Cruise Services only released an official statement on Apr. 1. The company, which is headquartered in Germany, said the RCGS Resolute was drifting just over 13 miles off the coast of Isla La Tortuga, a Venezuelan island situated some 60 miles off the country's northern coast, when ANBV Naiguatá, also known by its hull number GC-23, approached it. The Venezuelan Navy ship ordered the cruise ship to follow it to Puerto Moreno on Isla De Margarita, located to the east, accusing it of violating the country's territorial waters.

[Red Badger]

Germany: 1
Venezuela: 0

[PGR88]

The Venezuelan Navy ship ordered the cruise ship to follow it to Puerto Moreno on Isla De Margarita, located to the east, accusing it of violating the country's territorial waters.

The local commander wanted to loot it.

[TexasGator]

“Not an April Fools joke but funny.”

Click-bait?

[BenLurkin]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCGS_Resolute

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaicamacuto-class_patrol_boat

[Red Badger]

[BradyLS]

The Venezuelan patrol boat looks very new and stealthy with its slab sides. Is it one of those alumnium hull deals?

[Secret Agent Man]

Ah. some good news for today.

[TexasGator]

Also: Freighter Full of Sheep Accidentally Sinks Russian Spy Ship

[lee martell]

Let me get this straight.
Is this article saying that the Venezuelan Navy has become a bunch of Pirates? Why else would a patrol ship repeatedly ram into a cruise liner? Is that what just happened?

[DIRTYSECRET]

We need before/after pics. I guess the after pics are impossible. Heh heh.

[DIRTYSECRET]

We need before/after pics. I guess the after pics are impossible. Heh heh.

[ransomnote]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32853/this-venezuelan-patrol-ship-sunk-itself-after-ramming-a-cruise-liner-with-an-reinforced-hull

 

[tired&retired]

Maduro Baghdad Bob News

“Venezuelan authorities have disputed this version of events, claiming Resolute “in a cowardly and criminal manner fled collision site and didn’t try to rescue the crew of sinking ship.” Venezuelan Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino also described the cruise ship’s actions as an “act of imperial aggression” and “piracy.””

[Dacula]

We need before/after pics. I guess the after pics are impossible.

I have seen the after pictures and you can see some damage but it superficial. How the Venezuelan ship sank after this damage is a hoot.

[Billthedrill]

A little-known piece of ship-handling doctrine: hitting things is bad.

[nuke_road_warrior]

Once again, Newton wins.

[ThunderSleeps]

Well, how about that... size matters.

[monkeyshine]

I’m wondering what an icebreaker was doing near the equator...

[Spktyr]

No, it’s a Navantia built steel hull.