Armed Cruise Ship Security Team Fights Off Somali Pirates

Gerry McGill — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:06:58 GMT

An Italian cruise ship carrying armed Israeli security guards successfully fought off a hijacking attempt by Somali pirates last Saturday, April 25, 2009. The MSC Melody, a 670 foot Italian flagged cruise liner, was carrying 991 passengers and 536 crew members when it was attacked by a speed boat carrying six men armed with Kalashnikow rifles. When the pirates attempted to board the liner using a ladder with hooks, the crew sprayed them with fire hoses and he Israeli security guards opened fire with small arms. The pirates backed off but continued to follow the ship for about 20 minutes firing at it. The pirates left when a Spanish Naval Ship appeared on the scene.

This incident is believed to be one of the first times a non-military ship with private security guards has used guns to repel a pirate attack. Generally ships with guns onboard are barred from docking at non-military ports, a fact that is well known to Somali pirates. However, as in this case, to get around this restriction some vessel owners are hiring private security forces to board as a ship enters dangerous waters and then debark when the ship has passed beyond the danger area.

Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in a video speech said: " We shouldn't say that they (commercial vessels) can't carry guns." He further stated that ship operators need to take responsibility for the safety of their vessels, crews, and passengers.

The avoidance of a hijacking putting more than 1500 people in danger by simply hiring a few armed guards should show policymakers the total absurdity of making ships sail unarmed into dangerous waters.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Gerry McGill

Maersk Alabama ship's cook sues shipowner and employer

Gerry McGill — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:02:35 GMT

Richard Hicks, the ship's cook on the U.S. flagged cargo ship, Maersk Alabama, that was hijacked by Somalia pirates on April 8, 2009 has filed suit against the shipowner and the operator alleging that they knowingly sent the ship into dangerous, pirate-infested waters without adequate security measures.

After the pirates boarded the ship, the crew was able to take one of the pirates hostage. The pirates also took Captain Richard Phillips hostage. The pirates subsequently promised to exchange Captain Phillips for the pirate hostage but reneged on the agreement after the crew returned the pirate and the pirates took Captain Phillips back to the lifeboat. The hostage situation ended when Nayy Seals oboard the U.S. destroyer Bainbridge simultaneously shot three pirates on the lifeboat to death while a fourth pirate was onboard the Bainbridge for medical treatment. Captain Phillips was freed, and the cargo ship proceeded on its voyage.

This is apparently the first time in nearly 200 years that the U.S. military has taken lethal action against pirates. However, rather than serve as a deterrent, pirate atacks have actuall increased off of Somalia.

Currently, merchant vessels do not carry weapons aboard but this is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. There was a time when merchant vessels had a small armory aboard with weapons kept under lock and key kept by the Captain, but this is no longer the case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Gerry McGill

Biloxi / Gulfport Personal Injury Lawyer - pirates

Armed Cruise Ship Security Team Fights Off Somali Pirates

Maersk Alabama ship's cook sues shipowner and employer