Cruise Ships Hijacked by Pirates

Imagine setting sail on what you think will be a relaxing cruise, only to find yourself in the middle of a terrifying pirate hijacking. While it sounds like something straight out of a movie, cruise ships have indeed been targets for pirates, even in modern times. These incidents have occurred in various parts of the world. Here, we explore 11 hijacking incidents, revealing the real dangers that can sometimes be found on the high seas.

1. Achille Lauro (1985)

In October 1985, the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by four armed terrorists from the Palestine Liberation Organization while docked in Alexandria, Egypt. With most of the passengers having disembarked to explore the port, the hijackers took the remaining 97 passengers and crew hostage in exchange for the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners from Israel. Tragically, an elderly Jewish man was killed during the ordeal. After two days, the hostages were freed in exchange for the hijackers being granted safe passage through Egypt. The terrorists were arrested shortly after when their flight was forced to land at a NATO base and were subsequently sentenced to 15-30 years in prison.

2. The Seabourn Spirit (2005)

In November 2005, the luxury cruise ship Seabourn Spirit, with 150 passengers and 160 crew members on board, found itself under attack by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The assailants fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, attempting to take control of the vessel. With the crew's quick and decisive actions to deploy high-pressure water cannons and sonic weapons, they successfully thwarted the attack, forcing the pirates to retreat.

3. Le Ponant (2008)

One of the most dramatic incidents took place in April 2008 when the luxury yacht Le Ponant was hijacked by Somali pirates. At the time, only the 30-member crew was on board, and they were taken hostage. The pirates held the ship for eight days before releasing the crew unharmed. Although a ransom was paid for their release, the pirates were later captured, and some of the ransom money was recovered.

4. The Nautica (2008)

Another close call happened in 2008 when the Oceania Nautica encountered two pirate skiffs in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and Somalia. Despite the pirates' attempts to hijack, the ship managed to outrun the attackers, leaving passengers unharmed.

5. The Astor (2008)

The MS Astor, a small cruise ship operated by Transocean Tours, also narrowly escaped pirates in 2008 while cruising in the Gulf of Oman. Two speedboats attempted to approach the ship, but a German frigate, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, intervened by opening fire, forcing the pirates to retreat. Remarkably, the 492 passengers on board were reportedly unaware of the incident as it was resolved swiftly.

6. MS Athena (2008)

The MS Athena, a classic cruise ship with over 60 years of service, had a tense encounter with pirates in December 2008. Although the incident isn't widely documented, reports suggest that the ship was surrounded by several pirate vessels, but none attempted to board. The crew deployed water hoses in an effort to deter the pirates, though these measures were not particularly effective. Despite the close call, the ship emerged unharmed.

7. The MSC Melody (2009)

In 2009, the MSC Melody faced a modern pirate attack while sailing in the Indian Ocean, 500 miles off the coast of the Seychelles. After a late-night outdoor concert, passengers spotted a skiff approaching the ship and quickly alerted the crew. In a desperate attempt to prevent the pirates from boarding, passengers began throwing deck chairs overboard. The crew responded by using a water cannon and exchanging gunfire with the attackers using onboard pistols. This tactic successfully forced the pirates to abandon their attempt. Remarkably, this incident marked the first time a cruise ship had engaged in a gunfight with modern pirates. MSC Melody, 2008. Photo by Arno Esterhuizen. Public domain.

8. The Ariva 3 (2009)

The Ariva 3, a Turkish cruise ship en route to Aden for repairs in 2009, was attacked by pirates, though details about the incident are scarce. The ship, which had no passengers on board, carried two British and four Japanese crew members. In this unusual encounter, the pirates fired on the ship for about 15 minutes before abruptly ceasing their attack and leaving the vessel unharmed.

9. SS Oceanic (2010)

In May 2010, the SS Oceanic, an educational cruise ship operated by Peace Boat, faced a pirate attack while sailing off the coast of Yemen during a world cruise. The pirates attempted to board the ship using grenades, but the crew skillfully evaded capture by employing zig-zag maneuvers and deploying a water cannon to repel the attackers. The SS Oceanic then headed toward a NATO patrol, which successfully intercepted and captured the pirates, ensuring the safety of everyone on board.

10. The Spirit of Adventure (2011)

In 2011, while cruising near the Yemeni coast, pirates pursued the Spirit of Adventure. Fortunately, the ship managed to evade the attackers and escaped unharmed.

11. The Azamara Journey (2012)

The most recent confirmed pirate attack on a cruise ship occurred in 2012 when the Azamara Journey was approached by several small pirate boats off the coast of Oman. The ship successfully evaded the threat by executing evasive maneuvers and launching warning flares, which deterred the pirates before they could get too close. Azamara Journey, Port of Fremantle, 2018. Photo courtesy of Bahnfrend under CC BY-SA 4.0.

These incidents serve as stark reminders that, while cruise vacations are typically safe, the threat of piracy is still real in certain parts of the world.

References: Pirates Then and Now: Could Pirates Attack My Cruise Ship? | 12 Times Cruise Ships Were Attacked By Pirates (And What Happened)