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Possible Pirate off the coast of Cebu City, Philippines. (c) 2008, M. BorsukPirates on the High Seas
There's a lot more security on the cruise ships than there was in the old days (none). Even on the 350 or so passenger cruise ship, there are three or four crew members onboard who do both the normal hotel security functions, watch external cameras on security monitors, but look out at the sea when any other vessel appears. There's always a security boat on the harbor side of the ship when we're in port, but often it's a guy in a small motorboat wearing a hat that says "security", the guy not the boat. I suppose he has a radio to call in the troupes, and security on the pier is usually a lot like at airports nowadays. Piracy when we're underway is usually very difficult since there's 250 crew members on a our little boat compared to maybe 12 or so crew members on a containership. (The usual MO of "pirates" is to board slow going containerships at night and empty a container before a crew member comes by with a baseball bat. This is a lot different than what would be useful to a pirate boarding a cruise ship.) Also cruise ships make 15 to 20 knots and have all sorts of cameras and outlooks on the bridge; so stealth would be difficult for the pirates who would pretty much be overwhelmed anyway by bartenders and cabin stewardesses if they somehow could board the ship. And it is said that the cruise ships now have high pressure water hoses and other anti-boarding measures. (On Silveasea, the captain would make any pirates drink grappa, and that would do them in for sure.) Most of all, there is a "Security Officer" on each of the Silversea ships that seems to be sent by Central Casting. He is always a Brit with a movie Scotland Yard accent, tattooed arms (usually of anchors), and very little neck. On some of my cruises the little Asian looking security crew members turned out to be Gurkas. Most priates would not want to mess with them. Overeating and perhaps having a drink or two too many are a risk on a cruise, but being made to walk the plank isn't.
There's a lot more security on the cruise ships than there was in the old days (none). Even on the 350 or so passenger cruise ship, there are three or four crew members onboard who do both the normal hotel security functions, watch external cameras on security monitors, but look out at the sea when any other vessel appears. There's always a security boat on the harbor side of the ship when we're in port, but often it's a guy in a small motorboat wearing a hat that says "security", the guy not the boat. I suppose he has a radio to call in the troupes, and security on the pier is usually a lot like at airports nowadays. Piracy when we're underway is usually very difficult since there's 250 crew members on a our little boat compared to maybe 12 or so crew members on a containership. (The usual MO of "pirates" is to board slow going containerships at night and empty a container before a crew member comes by with a baseball bat. This is a lot different than what would be useful to a pirate boarding a cruise ship.) Also cruise ships make 15 to 20 knots and have all sorts of cameras and outlooks on the bridge; so stealth would be difficult for the pirates who would pretty much be overwhelmed anyway by bartenders and cabin stewardesses if they somehow could board the ship. And it is said that the cruise ships now have high pressure water hoses and other anti-boarding measures. (On Silveasea, the captain would make any pirates drink grappa, and that would do them in for sure.) Most of all, there is a "Security Officer" on each of the Silversea ships that seems to be sent by Central Casting. He is always a Brit with a movie Scotland Yard accent, tattooed arms (usually of anchors), and very little neck. On some of my cruises the little Asian looking security crew members turned out to be Gurkas. Most priates would not want to mess with them. Overeating and perhaps having a drink or two too many are a risk on a cruise, but being made to walk the plank isn't.
1 comment:
It is very important to have a good cruise ship security for the passengers as it is not only for pirate attacks. There are also crimes/violence that can occur on board like theft, sexual assault and more.
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