More News Regarding Oceania Nautica's Pirate Adventure

Oceania Nautica in Port Sultan Qaboos, Sultanate of Oman

Ship Passengers Recount Pirate Attack

The entire story is available at:
http://news.aol.com/article/ship-passengers-recount-pirate-attack/253628

Soap Box Ravings notes in this article passengers described hearing "the Pop! Pop! Pop! of the pirate's rifles firing at the ship." My experiences at sea and as a firearms instructor tell me the only way the passengers could have heard the rifles firing would be for them to be watching from the weather decks of the Nautica from the same side as the shooters.

If they were watching from the weather decks, the crew was not doing their job protecting the passengers. Since the pirates are known to have rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) as well as rifles, all unnecessary personnel including the crew should have been moved to the inside passageways. This would place cabins between the incoming rounds and those onboard the ship.

In Soap Box Ravings opinion the fun is over when the person next to you takes a round between the eyes.

Soap Box Ravings as has been said is a proponent of individual rights. But with those rights comes individual responsibility. The most important criteria of self protection is your ability to think and plan ahead. Wendy Armitage, Wellington, New Zealand said "We didn't think they would be cheeky enough to attack a cruise ship." And in Soap Box Ravings' opinion that was here first error in judgement. Let's ask the question, Sailing a ship full of "money" through an area of known pirate activity could cause what?"

Soap Box Ravings is sure that Oceania Cruises who operates the ship assured all of the passengers prior to leaving port. The cruise ships I have been on like to assign passengers to certain areas when the passengers are required to wait. However, most of these areas have large windows. Therefore the dining areas, bars, swimming deck and most other areas are not safe when receiving incoming fire.

Soap Box Ravings says the article points out International warships have created and patrol a security corridor through the area. As has been pointed out by myself and others regardless of where you are, "The police are only minutes away."

Let us remember that this ship has upward of 1000 people on board counting passengers and crew. It needs to be operated to make money but I question if it needs to be operated without the ability to protect itself in a known pirate operating area. This time it outrun the pirates but I have ridden many a ship with a main engine out of commission during transit. The loss of a main propulsion plant always reduces your speed.