List of ships attacked by Somali pirates Wikipedia

Despite the alarming captions, the actual footage paints a contrasting picture. The video shows passengers in the dining hall appearing relaxed and engaged in casual conversation, with one man even engrossed in his laptop. The atmosphere seems far from the panic-stricken scenario described in the captions. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. According to international law, it is a crime of piracy when an act is committed within international waters and, thereby, outside the territorial jurisdiction of any given nation.

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On November 28, 2008, on the way from Sharm el-Sheikh to Dubai, pirates were preparing to attack a fairly large cruise ship. After a while, the attack ended, and the ship continued to head to Australia without any injuries. The ship is still in service under the name of another famous pirate attack on the cruise ship on the night of April 25, 2009. We achieved this by deploying a small detachment of guards onboard the cruise ship armed with Styer Scout single-shot bolt action rifles. In 2005, the cruise ship Seaborne Spirit was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. "We are no longer going to travel through the dangerous areas of the Indian Ocean near the Somalian coast," the cruise ship company's chief says.

What Else Should I Know About Cruise Ship Pirate Attacks?

Piracy along the Somalia coast is common — several ships a month are attacked or hijacked, with valuables stolen and crews held for ransom. Pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade and machine guns Saturday in an attack on a luxury cruise liner off the east African coast, the vessel's owners said. As the vessel was formerly a police vessel, it was fitted with blue flashing lights.

Assessing the likelihood of pirate attacks

Understanding the specific regions where pirate attacks are more prevalent is crucial for cruise ships to plan their routes and implement appropriate security measures. Onboard security teams are trained to detect and deter potential security threats, including piracy. They work closely with the ship’s crew and are instrumental in implementing security protocols to protect passengers and crew in the event of an attack.

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A speed boat had appeared at the stern and several armed men were preparing to board the cruise ship, they said. Several passengers were desperately grabbing deck chairs and tables and hurling them down at the men trying to board the ship. While there have been only a few reported incidents over the past decade, the cruise industry takes the risk seriously. Cruise ships implement rigorous safety procedures and deploy advanced technologies to mitigate threats and safeguard passengers. Continuous evaluation and improvement of communication and response procedures are vital to maintaining security levels.

Besides physical barriers, cruise ships also employ security personnel and provide specialized training. Trained security professionals are stationed onboard to oversee and respond to any security threats. These personnel are trained in handling potential pirate attacks and work closely with the crew to coordinate a rapid response.

Razor Wire Barriers

And Vago says he believes that accomplices back on the mainland were trying to provide the pirates at sea with assistance. "It was only through the exemplary work of his crew and he himself that the ship was able to fend off the pirates," cruise passenger Rolf R. Again and again, the pirate boat would approach the ship and disappear under the stern, only to reemerge. Tayler and his fellow passengers continued to throw chairs despite the gunfire. One passenger was shot in the leg and one bullet grazed the head of a crew member. The armed security staff finally turned up six to eight minutes into the skirmish, passengers claim.

‘Has this ever happened to anyone??’: Cruise traveler says ‘real life’ pirates have surrounded her ship - The Daily Dot

‘Has this ever happened to anyone??’: Cruise traveler says ‘real life’ pirates have surrounded her ship.

Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The lines of communication between ships, office personnel and government authorities are constantly open. Regular crew members go through weekly drills for safety purposes, while trained experts are contracted to be onboard in case of an approach. In more than a decade, there have been only six reported incidents of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships, and the most recent was more than four years ago already. To ensure the effectiveness of onboard surveillance systems, regular maintenance, testing, and upgrades are essential. Cruise lines invest in routine equipment checks, software updates, and training for security personnel to stay up to date with the latest advancements in surveillance technology. Modern cruise ships are equipped with a network of surveillance cameras strategically positioned throughout the ship.

How can the international community address the issue of piracy and support the safety of cruise ships?

The U.S.S. Mason, and other ships from the U.S.-led counter-piracy task force that operates off the coast of Somalia, responded Sunday morning after the crew of the commercial ship, the Central Park, called for help. The Central Park crew reported they were under attack from an unknown entity, U.S. A rise of attacks since October 2023 on commercial ships in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by the Houthis has greatly impacted tourism in the area. "The ship had been completely blacked out and made invisible to the pirates," MSC chief Vago says.

It was unimaginable, virtually impossible even, that flip-flop wearing pirates could attack them here. Developed by the Security Alliance for Effective Solutions, the Nemesis 5000 represents a significant advancement in maritime security technology. This robust water cannon can shoot a 360-degree curtain of water at speeds of up to 128 km/h. Deployed as a non-lethal weapon, the Nemesis 5000 is a formidable deterrent against pirate activities, preventing unauthorised access to the ship. Its ability to deliver a high-pressure stream of water creates a formidable barrier that pirates are unlikely to overcome, further enhancing the vessel’s security measures. These comprehensive precautions are essential for maintaining the safety and security of passengers and crew members, ensuring a safe voyage through potentially dangerous waters.

Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Carnival Corporation rerouted itineraries for 12 ships across seven brands for voyages scheduled to sail through the Red Sea through May. The cruise industry has had to reroute and cancel cruises as a result of violence in the area. Royal Caribbean has been forced to cancel a cruise due to the conflict in the region of the Red Sea. This video appears to be part of a larger trend of clickbait, sensationalist content on TikTok designed to manipulate the algorithm and attract views.

All of this occurs even when pirates are not sighted, and passengers are rarely, if ever, aware of these tactics, although many of those who have sailed through the Gulf of Aden attest to the use of minimal lighting. Utilizing the ship’s communication systems, the security team established contact with naval authorities in the region. Their presence, combined with the effective communication and timely response of the cruise ship’s security team, deterred the pirates, and they were unable to board the vessel. In another case, a cruise ship navigating through the Malacca Strait encountered a small skiff with armed individuals onboard, behaving suspiciously. The ship’s security personnel immediately alerted the bridge team and implemented evasive maneuvers.

Captain Pinto, who has been celebrated in the press as a hero, reported details of the attack to the passengers on Monday. "You can't hold back pirates with chairs and tables," he told the assembled passengers. It was also the point at which the captain understood what was happening -- his ship was being attacked by pirates. The ship is currently doing a 99-day World Cruise, and is chartered by one of the largest travel companies in Japan. This is not the first time such precautions have been taken aboard this particular ship. Royal Caribbean crew member and Tiktok user ‘ericafromamerica’ also shared what her ship did to keep passengers safe while sailing through the pirate hotspot.

These techniques involve both physical modifications to the ship and the implementation of security protocols that act as deterrents and obstacles for pirates. The statements of MSC Cruises chief Vago illustrate how poorly prepared cruise ships have been up to now in dealing with the threat of pirate attacks. "Up until now, we have given more consideration to fish specialities or fine wines than attacks on the high seas," the Italian cruise executive says. The company says it has had security personnel on its ships for the past 25 years, but "because of legal provisions," they are required to keep their weapons in a safe. The captain is only permitted to distribute the guns after an alarm has been given.

Additionally, reinforced doors with strong locking mechanisms provide an extra layer of protection against unauthorized entry. Regular cruise passengers might be familiar with LRADs or Long Range Acoustic Devices. The fact remains that while yachts have been kidnapped and cargo vessels have been hijacked for ransom, there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship. Piracy occurs when the motive is purely for profit; pirates attempt to board ships with the intent to rob them or hold the crew or passengers hostage for ransom. We no longer mean a pirate like Jack Sparrow, but obviously we mean Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden. From November 19th to 21st, we will be touring the area where this pirate activity took place.

MSC Cruises chief Vago has denied allegations that the cruise line jeopardized the safety of its passengers. Just before the cruise started, the company had even changed the ship's route to steer it even further away from the dangerous Somali coastal waters than originally planned. The pirates are operating in an ever greater area -- a trend that has grown further with the MSC Melody incident. By studying and learning from these successful incident avoidance case studies, cruise lines can further refine their security strategies and ensure that they stay ahead of evolving piracy tactics.