Italian cruise ship thwarts pirate attack

[kirock7]

It's about dang time!!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04 ... index.html

(CNN) -- The captain of an Italian cruise ship foiled an attack by pirates off the coast of Somalia on Saturday by ordering his security crew to fire back, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

Six armed pirates in a speedboat attacked the ship, which had about 1,500 people onboard, ANSA said. They fled after the security crew fired back.

The cruise ship Melody, which is owned by an Italian company, was on its way back to Italy after a cruise, ANSA said.

No one was injured in the attack about 180 miles north of the Seychelles.

Piracy is rampant off the coast of Somalia despite the presence of foreign navies. The area hardest hit off the coasts of Somalia and Kenya, including the Gulf of Aden, is more than 1.1 million square miles -- four times the size of the state of Texas.

[Abraham]

Perhaps, if we didn't call them "Pirates" they'd be kind and act civilized.

After all, now that "terrorists" are no longer called that - they've stop being terrorists, right?

[CompVest]

Why would any cruise line want to run a cruise in that area? Perhaps watching pirates is far more interesting then watching whales?

[surprise_i'm_armed]

The cruise line's security team was Israeli because "they're the best."

The security crew was authorized to carry any sort of pistols that they deemed
effective. As the pirates were trying to board the larger vessel they were
met with high pressure water hoses and pistol fire.

The pirates retreated to their own vessel, followed the cruise ship for another
20 minutes, then gave up any further attempts.

What a concept - Pirates thwarted by bullets coming their way!!!

[bryang]

Finally!! The Italians had a little surprise for the pirates this time...an armed security team!

A few more of these and the pirate business would not be such a great business to be in.

-geo

[Isimanica]

I was approached about a year back to help form an anti-piracy security team for commercial vessels; when I was told "no firearms", I politely declined

There are times when I can see that the use of non sparking devices would be necessary. But there are many other vessels where that wouldn't be a problem.

[tfrazier]

So the excuse used by most of the shipping industry for not having firearms on board is that most countries will not allow an "armed" vessel to enter their ports. I wonder if this case was one where the Italian ship simply carried and didn't disclose they were violating other countries' laws or if they only used ports where no such laws applied?

I've also wondered how some of these massive cruise ships dealt with violent crime on board if none of their security personnel carried fire arms. After all, some of those things are practically floating cities. Granted, you don't have crips and bloods taking cruises, but still...

Even the 'Bobbys" in the UK have started toting sidearms in the last decade or two.

At any rate, it's good to see a case where the good guys easily repelled the bad guys with a little common sense fire-power.

[Keith B]

Why would any cruise line want to run a cruise in that area? Perhaps watching pirates is far more interesting then watching whales?

Could be very interesting Compvest, but similar. One of the big attractions for whale watchers is seeing them spray water out of their blow holes. The neat thing about that cruise would be watching the crew blow holes in the pirates!!!

Maybe they can make it an interactive event for the passengers?? I might like that cruise!!!

[tfrazier]

Keith B, you have hereby earned an UPL [Unconcealed Pun License]

[Kawabuggy]

I've heard that some of the cruise ships allow skeet shooting off the back of the boat. Now instead of clay pigeons, for an extra fee you can man a 50 cal. and fire away at Pirates! Yes!

I bet if this were to happen the problems with piracy would come to a screeching halt!

[DoubleJ]

Why would any cruise line want to run a cruise in that area? Perhaps watching pirates is far more interesting then watching whales?

Could be very interesting Compvest, but similar. One of the big attractions for whale watchers is seeing them spray water out of their blow holes. The neat thing about that cruise would be watching the crew blow holes in the pirates!!!

Maybe they can make it an interactive event for the passengers?? I might like that cruise!!!

fer an extra $100, you kin shewt a few pirates.
fer $200, you get to use tha fiddy cal.

[gmckinl]

I've heard that some of the cruise ships allow skeet shooting off the back of the boat. Now instead of clay pigeons, for an extra fee you can man a 50 cal. and fire away at Pirates! Yes!

THAT is the funniest, coffee-spewing, thing I've read today.