RSSItalian Cruise Ship Msc Melody Fends off a Pirate Attack off Somalia Coast
The Somalia pirates are at it again, this time they attack the Italian Cruise ship Msc Melody. Private security guards on board an Italian cruise ship fired shots and used water hoses to fend off Somalia pirates late Saturday.
An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people on board fended off a pirate attack far off the coast of Somalia when its Israeli private security forces exchanged fire with the bandits.
Six men in a small, white Zodiac-type boat approached the Msc Melody at about 1730 GMT Saturday and opened fire with automatic weapons, Msc Cruises director Domenico Pellegrino said. They retreated after the security officers returned fire and sprayed them with water hoses. The ship continued its journey with its windows darkened.
“It felt like we were in war,” the ships commander, Ciro Pinto, told Italian state radio.
Six pirates in a small, white Zodiac-type boat approached the Msc Melody Saturday night at about 1730 GMT firing their AK-47s and trying to fix a ladder to the side of the ship. The pirates were fended off by a team of Israeli guards hired by the vessel’s owners who fired back with pistols and sprayed the attackers with fire hoses. None of the passengers aboard the cruise ship were injured.
“They tried to put up a ladder with hooks. They were climbing up, so we reacted. We started firing. When they saw us firing – we even sprayed them with water with the fire-hose – they gave up and went off.”
The pirates chased the 670ft-long ship for another 20 minutes, firing at it constantly. Part of the vessel was slightly damaged during the raid, in the Indian Ocean 200 miles north of the Seychelles and about 500 miles east of the Somali coast.
Italian cruise ship fends off pirates with gunfire
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24 Responses to “Italian Cruise Ship Msc Melody Fends off a Pirate Attack off Somalia Coast”
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Interesting how a couple of bullets whizzing past your ear can change your whole outlook.
Absolutely no one can operate 500 miles from shore in a Zodiac boat — NO ONE. The pirates obviously benefit from logistics support at sea, i.e. “mother ships” and the like. While these mother ships certainly enable the pirates to launch their attacks, they also represent their achilles’ heel. Apprehend or destroy the mother ships and the pirates are defeated, being instantly transformed into “beach combers.”
I loved the ‘boiling oil’ poured on the
enemy (faintly recalled from the ‘Hunchback
of Notre Dame” or whatever).
Don’t fire over their heads, just shoot them. That would deter others. This way these guys have survived to try again, another ship, another day.
If we’d tackled the pirates right at the outset (first attack), I don’t think the problem would have escalated the way it has.
Another cry for help…
Will America turn its’ back on Somalia?
Feed your people.
.
What is a barrel of wheat and yeast?
To own a cow, is like being blessed.
And a glass of jam?
My people are proud people…
who know how to be kind.
.
Don’t let George Bush take away that!
(edit) the sky boxes!
… and, PLEASE take their guns back.
8)
Hope, get off your soap box, Bush has nothing to do with this.
Did you not say that Bush wasted money by sending it to feed the hungry in other countries when people in this country are starving? Now, you want to send food to these Pirates. Are you insane?
The urge to reproduce is very strong. There is no
food, no government, no anything. Turning to one’s
religion in the time of need is the only wonderfully
sustaining thing besides all this terrorism and
piracy stuff. Time to back off and reflect on life.
actualy, Bush is 1 of the few western statemen of tried to do some good for Africa.
who was it that dropped the ball…Clinton (and EU, but they don’t drop the ball, gotto catch it first
)
gave the pirates a bath did they? that was probably a first for the pirates. should have washed them with more bullets because they will try again.
hope why don’t you move your ass to somalia
and become a pirate wench ?
run these pirate boats over and leave them for shark bait.
hope, my old terrier sure needs some company. he would let you share his food and his blanket.
a dog should have another dog for company don’t you think ?
BREAKING NEWS: A NEW DISEASE NAMED AFTER HOPE.
THE SWINE FLU.
? it was a bit to nasty (post got deleted)?
had a remark about a certain type of dog and how we call them here in NL
_____________________________
SM: Yeah, a bit too nasty and serving no real purpose (klaasend)
but you got what I ment?
those dogs are real anoying and loud as well
But I know how some can be loud and pesky (klaasend)
_____________________________
SM: Yes, got what you meant. I actually have 2 small terriers but they weren’t how you described, LOL
Pure idiots that can’t discuss a topic
without resorting to name calling…
Dave:
Obviously, you haven’t, even, learned the hard way:
You don’t sleep with dogs…
Unless, ofcourse, you live in the Netherlands
and one just happens to embark on his desires
in the romance department!
Ask Dolf…
HOPE: maybe you should stop your name calling and all your copied material here. no one wants or cares to see or hear what you have to say. you attack me i attack you . it’s simple, keep your mouth shut and you won’t get teabagged.
Hope,
I read your posts, (and I think I read and understand English pretty good) and for the life of me, I can’t understand what the Christ you’re trying to say.
Super Dave and Nurturer..thanks for the laugh…Hope has been “on my tail” for a while, although she said she left the blog and gave a tortured and useless “goodbye speech”!!
Super Dave thinks he’s funny, and quite frankly, a lot of people find it in bad taste. Very seldom do people comment here, unless they want to laugh at the craziness he and a few others come up with. So anyone with half a mind, who chooses to live his life outside the walls of a few paranoid, grumpy ol’ men who call men ‘boys’ and threatens bloggers…leave.
But, by all means:
Keep it up….
it’s great ‘hate’ site material.
.
Nurturer:
I have seen you around for less time than myself and I don’t see what your point is either… but that’s okay, this is a free blog. Unlike Super Dave, I don’t abuse it. I rarely address other people unless they address me. I don’t snicker behind people’s backs, nor do I ask that they leave SM. They have every right to be here, but in the case of Super Dave; if he can dish it out… why can’t he take it?
I’ve been harassed on this blog a lot more than I’ve EVER harassed others. What? Do I have to be a member to have an opinion or do you only accept opinions from Republicans… anyone else… they’re out of here? Because, frankly, I don’t think THAT’s what Red had in mind.
And no Nurturer, you’re not the brightest apple in the batch so I wouldn’t expect you to understand what I have to say. But, others do.
The pirates were afraid of bullets? What? It is amazing what 6 private security guards can do, firing AR-15s from a stable platform like a cruse ship.
Bless the owners of the ship for having some common sense.
Anyone see King Kong? The Captain of a cruse ship could keep Thompson machine guns locked up in his cabin, and in time of need (like a pirate attack) he could issue each willing passenger a Tommy gun.
Oh what fun. It could become a new past time —Pirate shooting.
Jerry
Waterboy, the shipowners, insurance ppl don’t like that.
now the pirates use force but when they know ppl will shoot at them, they will arm themselfs more….
and Hope, did I read correct that you called my wife (married 9/11/08) a dog? (she would so kick your ass ;p, she is Dutch, Dutch women got hair on their teeth)
Laugh out Loud, Dolf!
Oh, what fun. Pirate shooting. It would be more fun than varmint hunting. They could probable collect a fee from willing passengers.
I’d pay 6 bucks!
Jerry