So... "What about the Pirates?"

[mikjr]

This is kind of a silly post... but I have to share my conversation with my dad, who just turned 90 years old in May!

 

I mentioned our upcoming Hawaii/Tahiti vacation in Sept and told him I was going to be gone for 30 days. There was a bit of silence on the phone... and then he said... "you know there are PIRATES attacking ships down there".

 

Now... I realize that he is just concerned about his little boy (NOW 60 years old!), and not seeing me for a month. But I tried to assure him that there has never been a case of "PIRATES" attacking a large cruise ship.

 

Am I correct in that statement?? I've done some online searching, and have found smaller yachts being attached, but never a large cruise ship.

 

Also, I have read somewhere that some cruise ships actually have large boom canyons they use to ward off attackers. Anyone ever hear of any kind of weapon used by the cruiselines?

[sapper1]

 

 

But I tried to assure him that there has never been a case of "PIRATES" attacking a large cruise ship.

 

Am I correct in that statement?? I've done some online searching, and have found smaller yachts being attached, but never a large cruise ship. /quote]

 

Go to Google and type in Achille Laurel

[Druke I]

There are still pirates operating in the Indonesian area, and out of Somalia, Horn of Africa area.

 

Couple of years or so ago, Somalian pirates attempted an attack on a small luxury liner (sorry, don't recall the line), using among other things Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).

 

They were denied boarding by a sound wave device, which is carried on many ships.

 

Both the French Navy and the US Navy have increased patrols in the Horn of Africa area, on a "pirate interdiction" mission.

[KLLund]

Explain to him that the pirate troubles are mostly off the coast of Somalia .. and I do believe I read about the boom cannons on a cruise ship that was attacked without success by the pirates!!

 

Enjoy you voyage

[jtl513]

Also, I have read somewhere that some cruise ships actually have large boom canyons they use to ward off attackers. Anyone ever hear of any kind of weapon used by the cruiselines?

Here is what was sitting on the Lower Promenade stern on the Amsterdam while we were in Cartagena Colombia. I don't know when it was put up or taken down exactly, but it was gone when we going through the Panama Canal the next day. It's marked LRAD 1000, American Technology Corp. "The Sound of Boat Protection" (click to enlarge a bit) See http://lorimargroup.com/LRAD.htm

That site doesn't actually say it's a "weapon" but does say

 

Features:

Determine Intent of Approaching Vessels

Non-Lethal intervention

Clear and intelligible voice communications

Attention-getting and highly irritating warning tone for behavior modification

All-weather operation

Maintain pier and anchorage security zones

Minimal power requirements

Flexible audio input/user interface

Available pan/tilt remote operation

 

Supported Missions:

Waterside Force Protection

Crowd and riot control

Area denial of personnel

Building clearing operations

Psychological operations

Visit board search and seizure

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Ground/mechanized offense/defense operations

[Boytjie]

As long as you don't sail there via Somalia.

[mikjr]

 

 

/quote]

 

Go to Google and type in Achille Laurel

 

Yes... I am familiar with the Achille Laurel incident... but I consider that a TERRORIST act, and not an act of piracy

[sapper1]

 

Yes... I am familiar with the Achille Laurel incident... but I consider that a TERRORIST act, and not an act of piracy

 

Granted, it was an act of terrorism, but you asked if a cruise ship had ever been attacked at sea. The poor gentleman in the wheelchair is just as dead by the acts of terrorists as he would have been at the hands of pirates.

[mikjr]

 

Granted, it was an act of terrorism, but you asked if a cruise ship had ever been attacked at sea. The poor gentleman in the wheelchair is just as dead by the acts of terrorists as he would have been at the hands of pirates.

 

You are 100% correct, that poor wife and his family had to deal with his loss. It was a terrible and very sad incident.

[calm_seas]

Please Google "Achille Lauro, not "Achille Laurel" (which takes you to a website that might not be suitable for everyone)

[sapper1]

 

You are 100% correct, that poor wife and his family had to deal with his loss. It was a terrible and very sad incident.

Yes, it certainly was. I remember being horrified when it happened.

[calm_seas]

Here is what was sitting on the Lower Promenade stern on the Amsterdam while we were in Cartagena Colombia. I don't know when it was put up or taken down exactly, but it was gone when we going through the Panama Canal the next day.

 

If memory serves, it was on one of the Panama Canal transit ships we were on stopping in Cartagena. However, on that cruise, by order of the Captain, no one was allowed to leave the ship unless they were on a ship's shore excursion.

[Taxguy77]

Here is what was sitting on the Lower Promenade stern on the Amsterdam while we were in Cartagena Colombia. I don't know when it was put up or taken down exactly, but it was gone when we going through the Panama Canal the next day. It's marked LRAD 1000, American Technology Corp. "The Sound of Boat Protection" (click to enlarge a bit) See http://lorimargroup.com/LRAD.htm

That site doesn't actually say it's a "weapon" but does say

 

Features:

Determine Intent of Approaching Vessels

Non-Lethal intervention

Clear and intelligible voice communications

Attention-getting and highly irritating warning tone for behavior modification

All-weather operation

Maintain pier and anchorage security zones

Minimal power requirements

Flexible audio input/user interface

Available pan/tilt remote operation

 

Supported Missions:

Waterside Force Protection

Crowd and riot control

Area denial of personnel

Building clearing operations

Psychological operations

Visit board search and seizure

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Ground/mechanized offense/defense operations

 

Thanks for the post:) My motto is: Learn something new every day! You made my day!:D

[Sailorgirlseattle]

If you're sailing on a personal boat/yacht of some sort, you need to be very careful in certain parts of the world ... yeah, there are guys out there who want to take what you've got, and they'll use violence to do it. If you're going to be sailing in that kind of environment, you can find out where the best/worst areas are as far as safety and "pirates" goes. That might be what your Dad is thinking about. BUT, being on a cruise ship on a major line is not anything I would worry about ... first, like you say, a cruise ship is very unlikely to be targeted for attack. But, also, the cruise lines aren't going to send their ships through dangerous waters .. like Somalia.

[sail7seas]

We recently saw a photo of a Dutch Naval ship escorting Prinsendam through a dangerous stretch. I think it was a courtesy to the Dutch connection to Holland America Line. Every now and then there is a story on one of the cable news networks.

 

Not long ago there was a story about a cruise ship whose Captain made some very artful dodging maneuvers. I am very vague about the details so won't even try to relate the story but I remember being so impressed with the excellent work of that Captain and his crew.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Here is what was sitting on the Lower Promenade stern on the Amsterdam while we were in Cartagena Colombia. I don't know when it was put up or taken down exactly, but it was gone when we going through the Panama Canal the next day. It's marked LRAD 1000, American Technology Corp. "The Sound of Boat Protection" (click to enlarge a bit) See http://lorimargroup.com/LRAD.htm

That site doesn't actually say it's a "weapon" but does say

 

Features:

Determine Intent of Approaching Vessels

Non-Lethal intervention

Clear and intelligible voice communications

Attention-getting and highly irritating warning tone for behavior modification

All-weather operation

Maintain pier and anchorage security zones

Minimal power requirements

Flexible audio input/user interface

Available pan/tilt remote operation

 

Supported Missions:

Waterside Force Protection

Crowd and riot control

Area denial of personnel

Building clearing operations

Psychological operations

Visit board search and seizure

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Ground/mechanized offense/defense operations

 

We also went through the Panama Canal this spring and before we got there - Catagena was also our stop.

Nothing special was but on our bow (Westerdam) and no one was told take only a ship's tour.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Was it Seabourn or SilverSeas that the pirates tried to capture?

[sail7seas]

I was thinking those, as well, as I recall the ship was not huge.

 

I didn't want to guess and be wrong about such a thing.

 

I do believe it was one or the other though.

[calm_seas]

Was it Seabourn or SilverSeas that the pirates tried to capture?

 

I was thinking those, as well, as I recall the ship was not huge.

 

I didn't want to guess and be wrong about such a thing.

 

I do believe it was one or the other though.

 

Krazy Kruizers / Sail It was Seabourn. Here is the link:

 

http://cruises.about.com/b/2005/11/06/seabourn-spirit-cruise-ship-attacked-by-pirates-off-coast-of-somalia.htmhttp://cruises.about.com/b/2005/11/06/seabourn-spirit-cruise-ship-attacked-by-pirates-off-coast-of-somalia.htm

[sail7seas]

Thanks, Calm Seas. That's exactly what I was thinking of.

 

Frightening!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Krazy Kruizers / Sail It was Seabourn. Here is the link:

 

http://cruises.about.com/b/2005/11/06/seabourn-spirit-cruise-ship-attacked-by-pirates-off-coast-of-somalia.htmhttp://cruises.about.com/b/2005/11/06/seabourn-spirit-cruise-ship-attacked-by-pirates-off-coast-of-somalia.htm

 

Thanks -- I knew it was one of the 2!!

[Bramcruiser]

The Pittsburgh Pirates are attacking cruise ships? :D

 

Okay, seriously. I have heard news reports of a cruise ship being chased in the Indian Ocean off Africa last year or so but the ship managed to get away. Small yachts have been attacked and boarded in less desirable parts of the world. While not impossible I think a cruise to Tahiti and Hawaii is relatively safe. So I wouldn't worry.

 

David

[mikjr]

While not impossible I think a cruise to Tahiti and Hawaii is relatively safe. So I wouldn't worry.

 

David

 

All I have to do is get my dad not to worry... that's the last thing I want on his mind for a month is worrying about his son. I guess it doesn't matter how old you are... I'm still his little boy!

 

A couple of years ago... I called him from the ship as we were pulling out of port in Los Angeles. He fell answering the phone and cracked two ribs! I didn't know how bad he was hurt until we reached port in Hawaii, 5 days later. That's all I had on my mind for the first week of the cruise. I know when you have older parents... it's hard not to worry about them also

[Bramcruiser]

I guess it doesn't matter how old you are... I'm still his little boy!

 

Its always like that. 44 years old and when I visit my parents its like I'm a kid again. And yes they do say all those things about being careful as if you don't know what you are doing. I can sooooo relate!

 

Like you said, my parents have now reached that point where now I am worrying about them.

 

David

[orangearmy]

Not to make light of this but if the pirate was Johnny Depp, I might not see my DW till we disembarked:D.