Firearms for the crew

[iceleven]

Another safety measure many cruise ships feature is their top speed. Remember that a working ship like in Captain Phillips has only one diesel engine with a maximum speed of probably only 18 knots. Many of the modern cruise ships have 22+ (Solstice-class top speed is 24 knots and Grand class is 23 knots) knot top speeds and lets face it, these pirates aren't using cigarette race boats. Personally, I feel cruise ships are much more vulnerable when in port, often times I've seen many small watercraft approach and get relatively close to the ships when in port before being intercepted by the Coast Guard.

 

I've always had a love-hate relationship when being escorted out of port by the local coast guard (U.S. or otherwise). Hate that our world isn't safe yet love that an effort to keep us safe is always there. BTW, I would rather there be guns on a ship than on an airplane...for obvious reasons.

[SteerageJack]

A surefire way to avoid terrorists on cruise ships is to stay home. Worrying about stuff you can't control is free on shore.:)

Edited June 21, 2015 by SteerageJack

[MJSailors]

A surefire way to avoid terrorists on cruise ships is to stay home. Worrying about stuff you can't control is free on shore.:)

 

Good thought!

If we lived our lives dependent on what the media communicates as news, a good number of us wouldn't leave their homes.

I would rather live my life and not worry about things that I can not control.

IMHO - turn off the TV news channels and live your life in the happiest, most calm way.

[caribill]

In most countries around the world, passenger ships carrying any type of firearms are not allowed to enter.

But most cruise lines do have very sophisticated and effective (non-firearms) means to repel pirates and other people with bad intentions.

 

See below for what can work

[GUT2407]

Many police forces around the world use water canon for riot control.

 

However I would be surprised if there aren't some firearms on cruise ships.

[caribill]

On a couple of the cruises they described the equipment they had that would emit a very hi frequency, but very targeted sound that would rupture the eardrums of the target person(s). This would be extremely painful.

 

 

This equipment is called a Long Range Acoustic Device. All cruise ships have them and they are put in place when the ship is in any port, even a 'friendly' one. They are usually placed on the 'wing' that extends from the bridge or near the stern. The LRAD looks like a small satellite dish and is usually covered with a black vinyl cover, but I have seen them open.

 

LRAD on a Princess ship

 

Edited June 21, 2015 by caribill

[caribill]

Security lookout in Gulf of Aden

 

[Pam in CA]

There are several differences between cargo and cruise ships to consider. Cruise ships have several more decks between the water line and the lowest boarding deck making any pirate vulnerable to repelling. Second, cruise ships don't carry valuable cargo making them less attractive to pirates. Third, as has been said, cruise ships are much faster than cargo ships and can generally outrun almost all small boats.

 

I seem to remember that some cruise ship security members are former Gurkhas. Not sure if that's true on Princess.

[crochetcruise]

Yeah... they're called fire hoses.

 

And in the hands of a skilled operator the offender gets VERY WET AND SEVERELY BRUISED! My Dad was a Volunteer Fireman and I've actually seen it happen several times! Much to the amusement of the local police who VERY carefully warned the Chief, "We need to go this way, warn the guys and be quick! 10 minutes max!" With 2 trucks and 6 lines of high pressure hose at full blast, the culprits were MIGHTY glad when the Police returned! Never had any more trouble, and the ringleader was known to be a serial offender-well taught his needed lesson!

 

Crochetcrise :cool:

Edited June 21, 2015 by crochetcruise
spelling error.

[GUT2407]

And in the hands of a skilled operator the offender gets VERY WET AND SEVERELY BRUISED! My Dad was a Volunteer Fireman and I've actually seen it happen several times! Much to the amusement of the local police who VERY carefully warned the Chief, "We need to go this way, warn the guys and be quick! 10 minutes max!" With 2 trucks and 6 lines of high pressure hose at full blast, the culprits were MIGHTY glad when the Police returned! Never had any more trouble, and the ringleader was known to be a serial offender-well taught his needed lesson!

 

Crochetcrise :cool:

 

 

Yep

 

Strange that people that cruise don't recognise the power of water.

 

Especially when it is under pressure.

[davecttr]

There are several differences between cargo and cruise ships to consider. Cruise ships have several more decks between the water line and the lowest boarding deck making any pirate vulnerable to repelling. Second, cruise ships don't carry valuable cargo making them less attractive to pirates. Third, as has been said, cruise ships are much faster than cargo ships and can generally outrun almost all small boats.

 

I seem to remember that some cruise ship security members are former Gurkhas. Not sure if that's true on Princess.

 

On a Thomson ship the captain was explaining how all the different crew departments are different nationalities. The security team were from Nepal and I for one was reassured. They looked like Gurkhas, without those long knives in evidence of course!

[SteveH2508]

There are several differences between cargo and cruise ships to consider. Cruise ships have several more decks between the water line and the lowest boarding deck making any pirate vulnerable to repelling. Second, cruise ships don't carry valuable cargo making them less attractive to pirates. Third, as has been said, cruise ships are much faster than cargo ships and can generally outrun almost all small boats.

 

I seem to remember that some cruise ship security members are former Gurkhas. Not sure if that's true on Princess.

 

Many of the NCL security are ex-Gurkhas - they wear a badge of crossed kukri's on their lapel.

[lahore]

Don't worry, if you actually go anywhere that is expected to be dangerous you will most likely be made well aware of the appropriate precautions. We have cruised off the coast of Somalia on the relatively small (but quite fast) Oceania Nautica (twice). This is what happened:

 

1: An all passengers briefing by the captain, done with great humour and intelligence, but also entirely serious at the same time.

2: He had been the captain of the Oceania ship that was pursued by pirates in the same area, he had a great slide show. He was able to illustrate with amusing personal experience and quips like "when the alarm sounds off Yemen or in the Red Sea it does not mean 'go and grab your camera' as passengers apparently thought last time it actually happened" :D

3: We had a compulsory all crew and passenger drill just after leaving Oman, where we all had to find somethings solid to hide behind and get down on the floor. We were give quite explicit instructions about what was bullet proof and what was not.

4: The ship had the water hoses out along the decks at all times, secured to railings and ready to fire. The LRAD's were also out and there were security guards on the promenade at all times. Extra and very obvious security staff were embarked at Oman.

5: There was a ship with a helipad trailing us. I have photos, I'll try to upload them shortly.

6. An international naval force was in the area and could be seen from time to time. The red sea is bigger than it looks on a map and takes several days to traverse.

 

All in all it added a little extra interest to the voyage. At the briefings, the one guy who said something about guns was laughed out of the room. The captain, rightly, said that was the last thing we needed.

Edited June 21, 2015 by lahore

[lahore]

Here you can see exactly where we were taken from the in-room TV map.

Edited June 21, 2015 by lahore

[lahore]

Sorry, having difficulty attaching photos, the previous post had our 'dangerous' location in the Gulf of Aden, this should include a photo of one of the hoses set up and ready to go, and a photo of the heli-pad anti piracy ship that was following us. The hoses were out all along the deck, about three on each side (Nautica not that large compared with Princess ships, only 600 pax).

Edited June 21, 2015 by lahore

[lahore]

See below for what can work

 

Bloody brilliant! And I'm sure this is what a couple of the passengers would have thought appropriate :rolleyes:

[The CRuIseLLS]

 

During the recent Cunard "3 Queens" visit to Liverpool, we watched the crew unfurl this warning banner on the QM2 as she pulled into port. No idea what would have happened had anyone got too close!

Edited June 21, 2015 by The CRuIseLLS

[Bill B]

The problem with LRADs is they don't work very well. The Japanese whaling fleet found them ineffective against a bunch of incompetent, hippie, vegetarian ecomentalists... I doubt they'd keep real pirates away from the ship.

 

Hose 'em off!

[GUT2407]

 

During the recent Cunard "3 Queens" visit to Liverpool, we watched the crew unfurl this warning banner on the QM2 as she pulled into port. No idea what would have happened had anyone got too close!

 

I have seen similar on other ships.

 

What would have happened is water police would have stepped in.

 

I have also seen that.

[sfaaa]

Bring back skeet shooting on cruise ship. Way more fun and effective than super soaker water cannon.

[chengkp75]

Shipboard security plans, under ISPS regulations, are secure documents that even the vast majority of the crew are not allowed to see. So, the general public will never know what is in place or not.

 

Most security officers are either retired law enforcement or military, and the security staff are the same. NCL does hire Ghurkas for their security staff. Security staff are not, however, specially trained anti-terrorist operators.

 

Even a simple 2-1/2" fire hose will provide enough force, if used correctly, to knock someone off their feet and cause severe bruising. The water coming out of the hose is at 225 pounds per square inch, so even accounting for pressure loss over distance, its like an entire NFL offensive line tackling you directly in the chest. The specialized water cannons are even more effective.

[pablo222]

I have been reading a lot about arming pilots with a firearm on airplanes to deal with any potential threats. Does anyone know if Princess has a vault of firearms for emergency situations or if there is a cruise line standard for this issue?

 

Seems a little extreme for the Purser's desk, but having

seem some passengers...

[JEH]

The mob of angry passengers whose cruise is being disrupted especially at meal time would make quick work of repelling pirates .

[paul929207]

Essentially throwing them in the water in the middle of the Idian Ocean will probably not be good for their health.

[Potstech]

Many maritime insurance groups will NOT insure any armed ship as it is a huge liability. After the 1985 incident that a passenger was thrown over the side in the Med. there was much discussion on this issue. Also several shipping lines wanted to carry firearms after several piracy issues off Yemen and again insurance agencies said they would not insure ARMED vessels or the cost would be to prohibitive. I do not think that has been changed.