Pirates Attack Cruise Ship Off Africa

PILLAGING PIRATES

Workers are seen painting the flank of the US-owned Seabourn Spirit ship docked in Port Victoria in the Seychelles archipelago 07 November 2005 after experts removed an unexplosed grenade embedded in a passengers cabin. The cruise ship carrying hundreds of tourists was attacked by pirates near the coast of Somalia on November 5th. AFP photo.

Washington (UPI) Nov 07, 2005
The Nov. 5 pirate attack on the Seaborn Spirit cruise ship 100 miles off the Somali coast was the 25th such incident in the last six months. Six vessels are currently being held by pirates, one of them captured at a distance of 120 miles from the coast.

The Seaborn Spirit managed to evade being boarded by two boatloads of pirates on inflatable speedboats armed with grenade-launchers and machine-guns.

The International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau last month renewed its warning to merchantmen to steer well away from the Somali coast after an abortive attack on a tanker took place 250 miles out.

The IMB Alert warns, "Ships are advised to keep as far away as possible from the Somali coast."

Last month the IMB called on coalition naval vessels to take action against Somali pirates. IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan said, "There is no government in Somalia that can take responsibility for law enforcement in its territorial waters. I call on coalition warships to stop hijacked vessels reaching Somali waters. If this were to happen it would be an effective deterrent."

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PILLAGING PIRATES

Indonesian Fishermen Use Knives, Machetes Against Australian Customs

Sydney (AFP) Oct 19, 2005
Australian customs officers fought off knives, machetes and flaming missiles as they apprehended an illegal Indonesian fishing boat, Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison said Wednesday.

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