Cruise Ship Safety

Pirate Attacks

When we think of pirates in the sense of men with eye patches and wooden peg legs, it is clearly a thing of the past. However, piracy still occurs out in the open waters of the ocean. Cruise ship pirates target cruise ships for a variety of reasons, but passengers should not worry because advanced security operations help prevent any unexpected visitors from coming onboard.

Somalian pirates

In November 2005, a Seabourn cruise ship sailing off the coast of Somalia was attacked by a pair of boats armed with machine guns and a grenade launcher. Fortunately, with some superior maneuvering on behalf of the captain, the ship was able to elude any major danger. This attack generated a substantial amount of media buzz, but pirate attacks at sea are a rarity. This particular attack was the first of its kind in more than ten years.

The coastal waters of Somalia are some of the most treacherous and likely to carry pirates of any area in the world. Since Somalia has not had an official government since before the turn of the century, and violence and chaos has erupted in the meantime. This has caused ordinary people to turn to crime as a means of survival, so these "pirates" raid cruise ships for supplies, ransom money, and other precious belongings. Most pirate attacks occur on cargo ships due to their poor security standards, close proximity to the water, and ease of access. However, some of them have begun setting their sights on passenger ships as a result of the prospect for greater financial reward.

African countries seem to be the hotbed for cruise ship attacks, as other vessels have been attacked off the coast of Nigeria. There have also been reports of piracy in Haiti, the north coast of South America, and in the channels of Indonesia. The majority of attacks take place less than 100 miles out to sea because the pirates use such small boats, and the United Nations has begun to crack down in shipping lanes of more popular attack areas.

Cruise ship security

Cruise ships have various methods of defending against piracy. First, they can move at a higher rate of speed than pirate boats, so they can outrun them if need be. Second, the massive size of a cruise vessel makes it a much more challenging target because it takes a timely, intelligent plan to mount and ransack it. Cruise ships have a more extensive security team than cargo ships, so they are more of a risk to these criminals. Third, about five years ago, many cruise lines began equipping their ships with long range acoustic devices that emit sonic pulses in the direction of threatening boats. Last, every cruise ship has an emergency solution to thwart an assault. If a situation like this arises, passengers should follow the crew's lead and avoid exposed decks and large windows until it is deemed safe to return to normal activity.

Pirates vs. terrorists

A pirate is someone whose attack is intended to make a financial profit by looting for valuables or other useful cargo and/or bargaining with hostages. If they have the manpower, pirates may appropriate an entire cruise ship for their own benefit.

A terrorist is someone whose attack is intended to make a political or social statement. Financial profit is secondary or holds no significance to the offender. A terrorist may threaten people or property to put pressure on another party to grant their wishes (e.g., release a prisoner).

Avoiding pirates

The simplest way to steer clear of a pirate attack is to avoid cruises that sail through waters that are notoriously dangerous. Potential passengers can refer to government travel and cruise line warnings to distinguish areas that are prone to attack. Before agreeing to a cruise package, you should map out your itinerary to make sure that it stays out of these high-risk zones. Since smaller vessels are targeted more frequently, consider booking with a larger ship.