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Somali Pirates Attack Cruise Ship (Shots fired at ship, nobody hurt, ship escapes)
Sky News (U.K.) ^
| November 30, 2008
| Steve Read
Posted on 12/01/2008 8:22:57 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aden; cruiseship; gulfofaden; maritime; mohammedanism; oceanianautica; piracy; pirates; somalia; somalipirates; terror; terrorism; waronterror; wot
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To: TC Rider
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?)
21
posted on
12/01/2008 9:15:26 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Palin / Coulter 2012: A Strong America Through Unapologetic Conservatism)
To: ari-freedom
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?
22
posted on
12/01/2008 9:17:22 AM PST
by
lewislynn
(What does the global warming movement and the Fairtax movement have in common? Disinformation)
To: ClearCase_guy
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.
23
posted on
12/01/2008 9:35:40 AM PST
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: lewislynn
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.
24
posted on
12/01/2008 9:37:42 AM PST
by
gieriscm
(07 FFL / 02 SOT - www.extremefirepower.com)
To: Stoat
What? No Christmas presents for the pirates cause they been bad?
25
posted on
12/01/2008 9:41:51 AM PST
by
Ditter
To: Stoat
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.
26
posted on
12/01/2008 9:47:33 AM PST
by
Atlas Sneezed
(Politicians, like diapers, should be changed often. And for the same reason.)
To: gieriscm
that would be SHOOT, SINK AND SHUT UP! LOL
27
posted on
12/01/2008 10:00:52 AM PST
by
70th Division
(I love my country but fear my government!)
To: Beelzebubba
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.
28
posted on
12/01/2008 10:01:34 AM PST
by
Stoat
(Palin / Coulter 2012: A Strong America Through Unapologetic Conservatism)
To: hosepipe
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 dont 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.
29
posted on
12/01/2008 11:02:23 AM PST
by
usurper
(Spelling or grammatical errors in this post can be attributed to the LA City School System)
To: Stoat
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.
30
posted on
12/01/2008 11:06:17 AM PST
by
dancusa
(For liberals there is no end to their rights and no beginning to their responsibilities.)
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...
31
posted on
12/01/2008 11:07:19 AM PST
by
Mopp4
To: usurper
[ 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..
32
posted on
12/01/2008 11:54:21 AM PST
by
hosepipe
(This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
To: Stoat
Anyone taking a cruise in that particular part of the world right now is freakishly stupid.
33
posted on
12/01/2008 12:17:31 PM PST
by
eclecticEel
(In short, I want Obama given the same respect and deference that Democrats have given George Bush)
To: hosepipe
If they don’t already allow it, why not add skeet shooting to the recreational activities on board? The advantages are obvious.
34
posted on
12/01/2008 12:17:40 PM PST
by
Jeff Chandler
(You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis)
To: Stoat
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.
35
posted on
12/01/2008 12:19:03 PM PST
by
econjack
(Some people are as dumb as soup.)
To: gieriscm
Except that you don't need to do #2 - gravity will do it for you. Sharks help out, too.
36
posted on
12/01/2008 12:20:06 PM PST
by
Sherman Logan
(Everyone has a right to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.)
To: usurper
37
posted on
12/01/2008 12:20:15 PM PST
by
SlowBoat407
(Do not read this tagline.)
To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
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
38
posted on
12/01/2008 12:30:08 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, October 11, 2008 !!!)
To: Sherman Logan
Sharks help out, too. Especially with freakin lasers on their heads.
39
posted on
12/01/2008 12:35:24 PM PST
by
Tennessee_Bob
(They're illegal aliens, not immigrants - there is a difference!)
To: Stoat
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
40
posted on
12/01/2008 12:36:12 PM PST
by
BerryDingle
(I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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