Pirates...OH MY....Ship Security ?

[derf5585]

[quote name='alwayshappytocruise']Pomp, as usual I love your post however, I think the pirates could afford the Bose noise cancelling headphones. Opinions???[/QUOTE]

The loud sounds the LRAD emits may cause permanent hearing damage to those within its range. The LRAD sound wave can be cancelled altogether through the use of common earplugs. The better the earplugs are at blocking sound waves, the less effective the LRAD is. Sounds emitted from the LRAD can be reflected back to the source by using a flat solid object.
from
[url]http://www.tech-faq.com/long-range-acoustic-device.shtml[/url]

[SIZE="4"]I understand deaf people are being recruited as pirates[/SIZE]

[Pomperaugrr]

[quote name='derf5585']The loud sounds the LRAD emits may cause permanent hearing damage to those within its range... [/QUOTE]

LRAD's, hmmmmm, that's what the young hoodlum gangsta' wannabe's in our suburban CT town must be testing in their chopped down Subaru and Honda rides at 11:00 p.m. every Saturday night. :rolleyes:

To keep this cruise related, I'm sure that most RCI passengers [SIZE=1][COLOR=red](and I am a loyal RCI cruiser)[/COLOR][/SIZE] would be willing to help repel a pirate attack once word got out that there would be no obc's issued for missed ports due to a hijacking.

I know i'd be motivated to repel an attack if a R.P.G. caused me to spill my martini! :mad:

Eric

[petesweet]

[quote name='FL_Cruiser64']Seriously, what pirate wants to capture a ship with 3,000 whiners and complainers. :D

And just imagine the flood of law suits for OBC coming the pirates way. :):D;)[/quote]


Good one! "I demand a free trip on that pirate ship."

[AnotherCruisingKid]

[quote name='IKE']All joking aside "Does anyone remember the "Achille Luro Cruiseship" back in the 80's? A man from NY was thrown overboard in His wheelchair because He called the Terrorists "Cowards". Never say never, it could happen again in this day and age.[/quote]
The were from the PLF and they killed him because a) he was a convenient target as he couldnt resist them and b) he was Jewish.

The Achille Lauro was a politically motivated hijacking. It was not piracy.

Pirates politics are about themselves and their money.

Also would like to point out almost all of the people who did the hijacking did time. They were caught when the US forced the plane taking them on their way to Italy.

No real pirate will take the risk of getting caught/killed/etc on a cruise ship. The risk to them is far too high compared to a cargo ship.

[derf5585]

[quote name='AnotherCruisingKid']
No real pirate will take the risk of getting caught/killed/etc on a cruise ship. The risk to them is far too high compared to a cargo ship.[/QUOTE]

Remember the Ponant

The ship carried no passengers at the time of its capture, but all 30 crewmembers were taken hostage; one Cameroonian, six Filipinos, 22 French, and one Ukrainian.
from
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Ponant[/url]

[AnotherCruisingKid]

And once again, 50% capture.

But I'd be willing to bet they knew there were no passengers on board.

[julia]

[quote name='FL_Cruiser64']Seriously, what pirate wants to capture a ship with 3,000 whiners and complainers. :D

And just imagine the flood of law suits for OBC coming the pirates way. :):D;)[/QUOTE

Absolutely laughing my a@@ off at these two lines!

[Darkwolfe]

I still think they could solve the problem real fast. Just "bait" a target ship and load it up with bunch of old country boys that regard pirates as what they are. Scum.

Let 'em bring their deer rifles along for the main event.

Shoot, they'd sell out space on that ship in less than a week and the pirate problem would be over and done with in short order.

Then maybe the folks in Somalia that need help could get it.

[IKE]

I am well aware of the PLO's involement in the "Achille Luro" takeover. I feel in this day and age a Cruise ship is a sitting target . As far as I know and I have cruised 70 times, am not aware that there are weapons on the ships to defend itself against any takeover.... Who is to say, the Pirates would not attempt to take over a Cruise Ship. There is no guarantee. With all the people on a cruise ship, they could ask for a huge ransom. This is how I feel, just my opinion. You are entitled to your opinion. It is a very dangerous time all over the world. We have to always be on guard wherever We go. IKE

[derf5585]

[quote name='IKE']I feel in this day and age a Cruise ship is a sitting target .[/QUOTE]

How true,
A cruise ship is very exposed in port.

[EtoilePB]

[quote name='derf5585']How true,
A cruise ship is very exposed in port.[/quote]

The PORT is very exposed in port.

As a former resident of NYC and a current resident of DC... you're either willing to be somewhere, or you're not. A cruise ship is way, WAY unbalanced on the risk/reward scale of piracy -- at sea or in port -- so if you'll excuse me, I'll be sipping girly drinks with umbrellas in them from my balcony. ;)

[Debde]

[quote name='derf5585']The loud sounds the LRAD emits may cause permanent hearing damage to those within its range. The LRAD sound wave can be cancelled altogether through the use of common earplugs. The better the earplugs are at blocking sound waves, the less effective the LRAD is. Sounds emitted from the LRAD can be reflected back to the source by using a flat solid object.
from
[URL]http://www.tech-faq.com/long-range-acoustic-device.shtml[/URL]

[/quote]

I just watched a show not too long ago on the history channel about Pirates and the LRAD.
As someone stated much earlier as the show stated-pirates attack cargo ships generally. The one cruise ship they spoke about held about 20 people. Much smaller then us RC fans think of. They did point out trying to keep a large cruise ship and all the passengers in control is close to impossible-that's why they go for valuable cargo ships.
On the lighter side:
Besides-just think of some pirates trying to gather up hostages in the dining room wearing jeans [on formal night] having a cigarette hanging out of their mouth. My money is on the passengers! ;)
seriously again:
I wish I could think of the name of the darn show. Maybe it will come to me and i'll post it. It would put many to ease that might be concerned about this. At least RC ships and the intinerary they use.

[annierie]

Check out this article

[URL]http://yachtpals.com/boating/le-ponant-3[/URL]

Le Ponant is my favorite cruise vessel. She is small, and does exotic itineraries like the Seychelles and the Med. Thankfully, she transits to and from the Seychelles without paying passengers although her captains will tell you they dislike the transit because of the threat of attack.

She is in my avatar as my favorite ship.

I sailed with some of the crew who endured this ordeal.

The company paid millions to get the yacht back.

That's what the pirates want. Ransom.

The Seabourn yacht did repel a similar attack a few years back. The pirates are much more sophisticated now.
[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabourn_Spirit[/URL]

The HAL ship Prinsendam received a Netherlands Navy escort while sailing to the Suez from the Seychelles last year to be sure they were safe.

This is not taken lightly by cruise ships doing exotic itineraries. Crystal also sails down there and takes precautions.

Bottom line. The ships sailing from South Africa and Madagascar up to the Suez ARE at risk, and are seeking protection.

[Lyncruiser]

Just curious. The consensus seems to be that a tanker with $100m of oil is a more attractive target than a $500m luxury liner with a couple of thousand Americans on it.

But, how and where does one sell $100m worth of stolen oil?

Seems like ransom might actually be easier to manage and more lucrative.

And, a few terrorists did manage to control an entire ship of passengers when they hijacked the Achile Lauro.

[Lou33]

The Captain has a procedure for when the ship is under attack by pirates. This was explained to us by captain Rune on the Radiance a few years ago.

When the ship is under attack, the captain directs everyone to their stateroom to wait for further instructions. Then when the captain gives the signal, everyone simultaneously flushes their toilet. This gives the ship a burst of speed to escape from the pirates.

[Lonedaddy]

[URL]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459445,00.html[/URL]

there you have it:mad:

[gjc1111]

A pax asked the "piracy question" of Captain Ryan on the 11/9 EOS sailing during the Q&A. Captain Ryan intimated that there were tactical resources at the officers disposal and that getting aboard a cruise ship at sea (at least newer/larger ships) is very difficult.

Additionally, a ship's flank speed could be several times greater than it's published maximum cruising speed. In the article posted above by Lonedaddy, it indicates that the skiff only managed to get within 300 yards of the ship. Certainly still a danger when talking about RPG's, and assault weapons, but obviously not close enough to board.

[bajathree]

Might want to read this....a cruise ship was just attempted to be overtaken by pirates.
[url]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459445,00.html[/url]

[espmass]

Julia, I also got quite a laugh out of those two lines about a ship full of whiners and complainers and about the suits for OBC. Very funny.

[CQG67]

I have been told on good authority that the cruise ships are armed - you just aren't suppose to know about it. Although I am not sure how this can be as a ship is not allowed to have weapons when it goes into a port. I guess they keep them a BIG secret.:)

[dforeigner]

[quote name='AnotherCruisingKid']I still don't believe the ideas that a cruise ship is a good target.

[/quote]

I am not sure is this is an optimistic or just a naive belief.

[bajathree]

[quote name='EtoilePB']Pirates are in it for the money. Always.

A ship full of cargo is something that will be worth money, that will sell for money, and that will have relatively few crew on board (relative to the value of the cargo) to deal with removing.

A cruise ship is (a) impractical to escape in, (b) not full of any cargo, and (c) would have a would-be pirate outnumbered by several hundreds or thousands to one, with all of the passengers and crew added up.

[B][COLOR="Red"]No actual pirate is interested in taking a cruise ship.[/COLOR][/B][/QUOTE]


Want to rethink that statement now that a cruise ship was just attacked by pirates.

[countryflower]

[quote name='FL_Cruiser64']Seriously, what pirate wants to capture a ship with 3,000 whiners and complainers. :D

And just imagine the flood of law suits for OBC coming the pirates way. :):D;)[/quote]


:D:Doh my god that is good!!!!!!jajajajaja

[derf5585]

I heard a rumor that some of the Pirates were from Pittsburgh.
Sorry could not resist

[AnotherCruisingKid]

[quote name='dforeigner']I am not sure is this is an optimistic or just a naive belief.[/quote]
The risks of taking 1000 or more people captive lends to the possibility that any of the 1000 may try to do something to stop you.

A supertanker or any cargo ship has what? 20-25 on board? The risks are a lot less.

Now I know some of the cruise ships have been attacked, I just think this makes the pirates dumb. And I'd bet they're not the same pirates taking the large prizes. So called "copy cat" pirates if you will.

So I agree that the attacks are going on. I'm just saying its not as smart as attacking a cargo/tanker and if I were a pirate I wouldnt be attacking cruise ships.