Somali Pirates Attack Cruise Ship (Shots fired at ship, nobody hurt, ship escapes)

Sky News (U.K.) ^ | November 30, 2008 | Steve Read

[Stoat]

A luxury cruise ship carrying scores of British passengers has come under attack from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

 

The luxury cruise ship, Nautica, managed to avoid being hijacked

 

Two pirate boats opened fire on the six-star Nautica, as she sailed between Somalia and Yemen on Sunday.

The cruise ship, which carries 690 passengers and 386 crew, was sailing past several groups of fishing boats when two small skiffs tried to intercept it.

Captain Jurica Brajcic began evasive manoeuvres when the pirates were about 1,000 yards away from the ship and managed to avert the attack.

While cargo ships and small pleasure boats have been attacked by Somali pirates, this is only the second time they have attempted to hijack a cruise ship.

Three years ago, rocket-propelled grenades were fired at the Seabourn Spirit. Two of the ship's officers were injured.

A Oceania Cruises spokesman said: "Nautica was immediately brought to flank speed and was able to outrun the two skiffs.

"One of the skiffs did manage to close the range to approximately 300 yards and fired eight rifle shots in the direction of the vessel before trailing off."

 

No one aboard the ship was harmed and no damage was sustained.

The ship's main defence against attack, a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), was readied during the chase.

It emits a high-powered beam of sound which, at close range, can shatter a person's eardrums.

The six-star ship was carrying American, British and Australian passengers on a 32-day cruise from Rome to Singapore.

[Stoat]

I would gladly man a M2 for a cruise passage. Hell, I'd pay for the privilege.

 

 

Agreed, that would be a great photo op for the wife / galfriend / concubine as well, who could then proudly show it off to her friends back home.

A minigun would also be nice

 

 

But wouldn't it be even nicer if people who pay $22K for a cruise might get for their money

• A cruise ship company that doesn't advertise it's specific ship defenses to all? and
• a couple of trained soldiers on board who know the weapons backwards and forwards and are fully accustomed to using them? (and who aren't frightened of using them?)

[lewislynn]

The problem is that the “Law of the Sea” makes it hard to deal with pirates.

Appaently like all laws the crooks/pirates are writing them. If they're going to just say- oh well it's those silly pirates legally taking innocent hostages again- and let it go at that, they deserve whatever they get.

Kill the frigg'n pirates, sink their boats and don't tell anyone.

BTW, who enforces the law of the sea? Somalia?

[Cicero]

I can see a future market for predator UAVs for ships of all kinds.

The way things are going, there's going to be a much larger market for pirate boats and pirate palaces. As the economy of the civilized world melts down, and the military is cut, and hundreds of billions of dollars are paid into the UN slush fund, the only folks who will have any dough to buy anything will be pirates. Should be a good market for attack boats, palaces, and gold earrings.

Somalia will never be a NICE place, but it's on its way to fantastic riches, and I don't see Obama or "the international community" about to do anything to stop it.

[gieriscm]

Kill the frigg'n pirates, sink their boats and don't tell anyone.

Is that the nautical equivalent of shoot, shovel, and shut up? Except that you don't need to do #2 - gravity will do it for you.

[Ditter]

What? No Christmas presents for the pirates cause they been bad?

[Atlas Sneezed]

How long before well-heeled passengers who can afford a $22K cruise start abandoning the cruise lines and driving them out of business because the cruise companies disclose the defenses of their ships to all, including pirates ?

---

Some people want exotic vacations (bored of the Caribbean), and a 32-day cruise from Rome to Singapore is going to pass through this area.

Also, my understanding is that merchant vessels (including cruise ships) are not permitted to be armed, according to international maritime law.

[70th Division]

that would be SHOOT, SINK AND SHUT UP! LOL

[Stoat]

Thank you, I’m sure that you’re right. I suppose then that their sonic weapon may have been chosen because it’s not specifically banned under law, but I still don’t see the need for them to advertise what they have to all.

In order for the cruise ship companies (and many ocean freight companies) to be able to survive, either the laws will have to be amended allowing defenses aboard ship, vessels will have to use military escorts or Somalia will need to be taken over and occupied....and I certainly don’t see the backbone to do that these days.

[usurper]

Cruise Ship owners should hire long range snipers.

Hitting a pitching target from a pitching deck would be quite difficult if not impossible.

Burt was right in Tremors, we don’t need penetration we max firepower, preferably belt fed. Hose them down with an M-60 and scatter the debris with a M-203. Low costs and fun.

[dancusa]

The six-star ship was carrying American, British and Australian passengers on a 32-day cruise from Rome to Singapore

32 day cruise? That's a long cruise. I once went on a 7 day cruise. I went aboard at 155 pounds and one week later I was 173. Fortunately I was a newlywed and work off 20 pounds in 6 weeks. LOL.

[Mopp4]

It emits a high-powered beam of sound which, at close range, can shatter a person's eardrums.

Great....how close is close range...when they're already on deck ??? I like previous posters idea of Snipers on board...

[hosepipe]

[ Hitting a pitching target from a pitching deck would be quite difficult if not impossible. ]

Not when they get close.. even far away shooting at the whole boat sends a message.. and if you miss and hit the boat.. Oh! well.. 50cal with tracers.. by a trained marksman can carry a good distance.. as will small UAV's with C4 charges and video.. several miles actually.. Could be made(uav's) with stuff bought at most hobby shops.. Could be launched (from cruise ship or tanker) with helium balloons..

[eclecticEel]

Anyone taking a cruise in that particular part of the world right now is freakishly stupid.

[Jeff Chandler]

If they don’t already allow it, why not add skeet shooting to the recreational activities on board? The advantages are obvious.

[econjack]

The ship's main defence against attack, a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), was readied during the chase.

Screw that! How about painting the pirates with a targeting laser and unleashing a salvo of smart rockets into their boats. Three or four of those kinds of defenses and this whole thing comes to a screeching halt.

[Sherman Logan]

Except that you don't need to do #2 - gravity will do it for you.

Sharks help out, too.

[SlowBoat407]

[SunkenCiv]

Rich white folks, they’ve got it comin’ to ‘em. /sarc

more here:

Somali Pirates Attack Cruise Ship (Brits, Aussies and Americans aboard)
Sky News | December 1, 2008 | Steve Read
Posted on 12/01/2008 12:09:59 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140979/posts

[Tennessee_Bob]

Sharks help out, too.

Especially with freakin lasers on their heads.

[BerryDingle]

This is more fun. Keep the cruise ships, mount these, and replace this pastime with the skeet shooting on deck. You could even have special deals on the 22K cruise tickets for the ammo (frequent shooter etc.)

Quad-50