Italy ship thwarts pirate attack

[JoeyandDavid]

A captain of an Italian cruise ship has given a dramatic account of how his crew fended off a pirate attack near the coast of Somalia. Capt Ciro Pinto said six pirates in a speedboat approached his Melody ship and opened fire, but then fled after private security men fired in the air. He said his crew also sprayed water on the gunmen when they tried to climb aboard using a ladder. No-one was hurt in Saturday's incident. Some 1,500 people were on the vessel. Capt Pinto said that the pirates tried to hijack his ship late on Saturday, about 290km (180 miles) north of Victoria in the Seychelles. "One white small boat with six people on board approached the port left side of the ship and started shooting." The captain said the pirates fired some 200 rounds of shots on the vessel. His said "our security started shooting in the air... and also we started spraying some water" to beat off the attackers. Capt Pinto said the pirates were forced to give up after about five minutes of shooting and a high-speed chase. Tabitha Nicholson was on board the ship during the attack and said the situation was "pretty dramatic". "She noted that there were lots of passengers on deck watching it unfold and they even took action themselves by throwing chairs overboard, trying to hit the pirates," Samantha said. "She said there were lots of bullet holes in the ship but that they were not serious enough to force it to return to port." The head of the Italy's MSC Cruises, which owns the Meloday, credited the captain for his "cool-headed" handling of the incident. The ship was on a cruise from South Africa to Italy. It was now headed as scheduled for the Jordanian port of Aqaba.

[lashl]

Gald tehy were able to drive the pirates away but I have a suggestion. Instead of firing in the air and getting the bad guys wet try actually firing at them! From past combat experience this usually has a very negative affect on the hostile force and gives them something to think about, like getting a new profession!

[JoeyandDavid]

Gald tehy were able to drive the pirates away but I have a suggestion. Instead of firing in the air and getting the bad guys wet try actually firing at them! From past combat experience this usually has a very negative affect on the hostile force and gives them something to think about, like getting a new profession!

Steve Steve Steve..

The good guys the guys in The white hat so to speak...only kill as a last resort!! didn't you know that pardner

[JoeyandDavid]

Personally I don't understand it either...

[Peddler]

They were trying to keep the tree hugging liberals from condeming them for being the agressor. If your going to drop something from the side of the ship, make sure it's big enough to go thru the speed boat...chair won't do it.

[JoeyandDavid]

They were trying to keep the tree hugging liberals from condeming them for being the agressor. If your going to drop something from the side of the ship, make sure it's big enough to go thru the speed boat...chair won't do it.

... maybe they were just adhering to the addage.... Thou shall not kill...

[Peddler]

If I'm getting shot at then that addage is out the window.

[JoeyandDavid]

If I'm getting shot at then that addage is out the window.

so i take it you don't turn the other check either?(at least once?)

[JoeyandDavid]

Jim Let me be clear I am not taking a position either way,..I am just putting this out for reflective conversation.

[jacketwatch]

So should cruise ships begin to have soldiers or police on board, people who are trained to use deadly force if need be to thwart attempts by other pirates, sort of like marshalls on planes? I do agree with Steve in that other pirates would think twice if some of their ilk were repelled or worse. I don't wish anything bad upon them but IF they were to be met with severe force they or others like them would think twice. Afterall they do this because they think its an easy target but If people shoot back.....