Armed gunmen attack cruise ship off Somali coast
Saturday, November 5, 2005
The Seabourn Spirit, a cruise ship sailing off the coast of Somalia, narrowly escaped an attack by gunmen believed to be pirates.
The pirate attack occurred on Saturday, when two boats approached the ship and began firing automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, injuring one crew member.
The crew took evasive action and escaped safely by employing an acoustic bang which caused the gunmen to flee believing they were under fire.
302 passengers and crew, mostly from the United States, Canada, and Australia, were onboard when the gunmen opened fire. The attack took place 160km (100 miles) off the Somali coastline, which has a reputation for pirate activity.
Deborah Natansohn, president of the Seabourn Cruise Line told CNN Radio, "The occupants of those boats did not succeed in boarding the ship and eventually turned away ... our captain and crew did a terrific job taking responsive action."
Edith Laird, from Seattle, told the BBC, "My daughter saw the pirates out our window. [...] There were at least three RPG that hit the ship, one in a stateroom four doors down from our cabin."
According to Mike Rogers, a passenger from Vancouver, the captain opted not to sound the alarm and instead announced the attack over the speakers, fearing the sound would drive people to the deck and place them in the line of fire.
Natansohn has stated that the company will re-evaluate future trips to the area.
The Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) is planning on highlighting the incident and its potential costs for tourism on Monday.
Pirate attacks have been an increasing problem in the area, with 23 hijackings and attempted seizures recorded by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). Two of the attacks were on ships carrying aid for the United Nations World Food Program. One attack involved a ship carrying 935 tons of rice for Asian tsunami victims. The crew had been held for three months before being released. According to the IMB, the pirates - mostly made up of the Horn of Africa's former navy as well as former fishermen - represent a serious threat to commercial shipping.
Somalia has been a volatile area since the ousting of former dictator Mohamed Said Barre. The country has been operating without a central administration since 1991 and is now controlled by warlords.
Australian media has speculated that the attack on the ship may be an act of terrorism rather than one of piracy.
Sources
- "Cruise ship repels Somali pirates" — BBC, November 5, 2005
- "Cruise liner narrowly escapes hijack in Somali waters" — Japan Today, November 6, 2005
- "Cruise ship escapes pirate hijack attempt" — AP Wire, November 5, 2005
- "Cruise liner fends off pirate attack" — CNN, November 5, 2005
- "Terrorists may be behind cruise liner attack: Downer" — ABC News (Australia), November 7, 2005
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