Cruise ship escapes pirate hijack (Africa is such a great place {/sarcasm} )

The Courier Mail/AFP ^ | 11/5/2005

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

A LUXURY ship today narrowly escaped seizure by gunmen off the pirate-infested Somali coast when it sped off to the high seas amid a trail of gunfire.

The vessel was carrying at least 600 tourists from Europe destined to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, where it was expected to arrive Monday, Andrew Mwangura of the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers' Assistance Programme (SAP) told AFP.

"The captain made a distress call and later switched off the radio communication to avoid being traced by the hijackers," Mwangura said.

He said that the gunmen sailing in three boats later abandoned the chase as they could not venture into the high seas and that no one was injured in the botched hijack early today.

The attempted seizure came two days after the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the increasingly dangerous Somali waters hampered delivery of relief supplies to more than half a million people facing acute food shortage there.

Last month pirates in the unpatrolled waters off the 3700-kilometre coastline of the war-torn Horn of Africa country released two UN-chartered vessels, one of which had been seized in June, but several others and their crews remain in captivity.

At least 23 hijackings and attempted seizures have been recorded off the Somalia coastline since mid-March, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which has warned ships to stay as far away from the coast as possible.

[battlegearboat]

Well afterall, there is no Pirate Academy.

Who knew an acoustic bank wards off pirates? Does it only work against inflatable pirate boats?

[DUMBGRUNT]

http://www.cruiseweb.com/SEABOURN-SPIRIT.HTM

Seabourn Spirit. Some say a sense of proportion is the true measure of elegance. The intimate size of these luxury mega-yachts assures their exclusivity. Aboard these all-suite ships, your fellow guests number no more than 208 well-versed voyagers. The Scandinavian ambiance is inviting; mellow lounges, open-seating restaurants, a spa and a unique marina for swimming are just some of the amenities that enrich your days. It's hard to imagine a more pampered existence. Yet you deserve no less.

Seabourn Spirit
- Ship facts:
Tonnage: 10,000
Length: 440 feet
Width: 63 feet
Draft: 16.5 feet
Speed: 18 knots
Passenger Capacity: 208 guests
Crew Capacity: 150

[The Electrician]

During WWI and WWII, didn't the British and/or American fleets use Q-ships, decoy freighters to lure attacks by U-boats, only to be revealed as fully-armed warships once such an attack occurred? Imagine that a cruise ship/warship would pretty quickly put an end to such attacks, huh...

[Jim Noble]

Most of the passengers are believed to be American.

Right after 9-11 it was disclosed that AQ had interest in grabbing a cruise ship for unspecified purposes.

Somalia would be a good place to do it, since there are many "normal" pirates to use for cover.

Sounds like a job for the boys in green - very, very similar to the shores of Tripoli.

[kstewskis]

equip the cruise ships with some 50 cals and a couple of rocket launchers and charge extra for adventurous passengers that want to sink a pirate ship.

Now that would be worth the extra charge!

[jimtorr]

It mystifies me that ships sailing through areas known for pirate activity continue to be unarmed.

What's upl with that? Would the cruise line would rather all the passengers be killed by pirates, rather than carry a single BB-Gun?

[Fraxinus]

IF I remeber correctly, they were used by the Brits early in the war, however I do believe they would be more effective against pirates than against U-boats. Pirates want stolen treasure, the U-boats only wanted to deny the contents of the freighters to the UK. thus while the U-boats responded by using their torpedoes (instead of deck guns), the pirates do not have that option.

Some people deserve a whiff of grape. Or a 5in. 70 cal DP loaded with flechettes.

[Pharmboy]

Pirate Academy...excellent. They could surely pick a great fight song, and their homecoming weekend would likely be a blast. Their motto could be "Arrrr..." or "We'll shiver your timbers."

[yankeedame]

Seabourn Spirit

Ship Facts:

-Capacity: 208 guests

-Crew Capacity: 150

-Tonnage: 10,000

-Length: 440 feet

-Width: 63 feet

-Draft: 16.5 feet

-Speed: 18 knots

[HiTech RedNeck]

"Arm" the ships with fire hoses. If unauthorized boat approaches, said boat is promptly swamped.

[festus]

Were these Amish pirates?

No silly horses can't swim that far offshore. These were the militant Hari Krishnas..........

[MarkL]

The vessel was carrying at least 600 tourists from Europe destined to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, where it was expected to arrive Monday, Andrew Mwangura of the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers' Assistance Programme (SAP) told AFP.

Kenya! I hope that they got their free snorkles!

For lions and tigers in Kenya, click here!

Mark

[alrea]

The attacks have highlighted insecurity in Somalia, which has had no government to enforce law and order since warlords ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

add to "reasons to bring democracy to Iraq" file

[patton]

Now there's an image. LOL.

[MarkL]

equip the cruise ships with some 50 cals and a couple of rocket launchers and charge extra for adventurous passengers that want to sink a pirate ship.

Where do I sign up?!

Mark

[festus]

That would be more fun than the skeet shooting deck.

[CommandoFrank]

Very good idea. Lots would pay good money for this type of excursion.

I agree... It could be a 'hunting' trip, that simply cruises back and forth off the coast of Somalia in a 'trolling' mode. Arm each passenger with the weapon of their choice. When the pirates approach, have at it. Highest 'kill number' wins a reward of some type.

[Dave278]

High shooter could maybe get free tickets to a show or buffet. Could even throw in some tokens for the slot machines. Sign me up!!!

[rerat0120]

I see they got that cruise control and rudder problem fixed, sinced the last time the vessel was mentioned in a news article. I believe that this was the vessel depicted in:

"Speed 2: Cruise Control"

[Blogger]

The prime suspect in this attack.
Name: Captain Jack Sparrow.
His ship: The Black Pearl
Most recently seen : Leaving France. "Too dangerous there.
Those people are nuts!"