Posted on 08/07/2016 12:45:40 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Are cruise ships prepared for the threat of terrorism? As I have contended for a long time, in my opinion no. Cruise lines are still calling on dangerous ports. They are still sending passengers on unescorted shore excursions in buses without armed security personnel. Cruise ships can't prevent terrorists from overpowering their unarmed security guards on most cruise ships and running up the gangways. (Some European cruise lines, like Costa, have weapons). Few lines are conducting anti-terrorist drills. The rare anti-terrorism training drill conducted by local and federal agencies are not even conducted on cruise ships. Few lines have installed automatic man overboard alarms which have the capability to also detect when unauthorized people come over the rails onto the ship. And what can a cruise line do once terrorists gets onto the ship? Security guards are barely able to even break up bar fights. I received an interesting comment the other day from a reader who said that cruise ships should use muster drills to educate passengers what do to if there is a terrorist attack during a cruise. What is the protocol for a passenger if terrorists enter the ship? Go to your cabins, hunker down and hope for the best? Try and overwhelm the attackers? Try and escape via lifeboats? Who knows?
(Excerpt) Read more at cruiselawnews.com ...
Seems cruise ships could be very vulnerable. International laws likely prevent CCW licensees from carrying.
Very vulnerable
If Somalia pirates can take over commercial shipping from small power boats, then ISIS could do the same to a cruise ship. Some commercial ships armed themselves to fight off the pirates. Seems cruise ships would be smart to do the same.
I had the opportunity to speak with the head of security on a large cruise ship (one of the largest cruise line). He is a good friend of one of the families we were traveling with. I asked him about pirates or other such attacks. Without tipping his hand completely to me, he suggested that his team was equipped and prepared for such a scenario.
Ya, I immediately thought of that ship hijacking, and how the Muslim terrorists threw Leo Klinghoffer(sp?) , a wheelchair bound man, off the ship.
Sadly they did it before and could do it again. Sadly no, cruise ships are not ready for this.
We’ve cruised a lot and are considering another. I just get a hinky feeling about it, though. I recall Achille Lauro and that poor man in a wheelchair being thrown overboard. Imagine what terrorists would do in this day and age.
The vulnerability is when in port, even if on cruise-sponsored tours.
Please remove my post!
Thanks!
I think the risk of stopping in Jamaica is even greater than the threat of ISIS. :)
You’d have to hogtie me to get me on a cruise ship in the first place; I really, REALLY dislike open water!
Now, I have another good reason not to go! :)
I have seen more thorough searches to board a cruise ship than anything on an airline or the US border.
I have never been on a cruise and never wanted to go on one.
There was a special some years ago about the vulnerabilty and isolation of cruise ships which sealed it for me.
I have friends who love cruising and think I’m nuts.:-)
With ISIS around I like the idea even less.
.
We cruise out of US ports, not going to cruise in Europe. I see where Carnival is suspending stops in Turkey due to stability, etc.
Open water isn’t the problem, it’s the 5,000 passenger closed circuit rebreathing commode that one is trapped inside of while paying for it!
Surrounded by a third world crew that hates you for the rich white racist you are.
Just one power hiccup away from a smelly Shippocalypse, no thanks!
The last place you will find me is trapped on a floating, moving, horizontal sky scraper with 5000 other people. I’d be postal by the end of the first day.
ALL cruise ships, I believe, are NOT stopping in Istanbul...they still stop in Ephesus, and maybe even Bodrum, which is a fabulous Turkey resort.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.