MedeshiCruise ship attacked by pirates off Somalia
NAIROBI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Miami-based luxury cruise ship has evaded an attack from Somali pirates as it sailed between Somalia and Yemen, a maritime official said on Tuesday.
Andrew Mwangura, of the East Africa's Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) said the Nautica, an Oceania cruise ship, was carrying 680 American, British and Australian passengers and a 400-member crew when two small fishing boats tried to intercept it on Sunday.
"The cruised ship was attacked in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday morning but no sailor was injured in the attack," Mwangura told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday.
The Miami-based Oceania Cruises said on its website that the MSNautica was sailing through the Gulf on Saturday when two small skiffs tried to intercept it.
The captain, Jurica Brajcic, increased the Nautica's speed and took evasive maneuvers. Oceania said one skiff closed to within 300 meters and fired eight rifle shots at the vessel before giving up the chase.
While cargo ships and small pleasure boats have been attacked by Somali pirates in the past, this is only the second time they have attempted to hijack a cruise ship.
"Nautica was immediately brought to flank speed and was able to outrun the two skiffs. One of the skiffs did manage to close the range to approximately 300 yards and fired eight rifle shots in the direction of the vessel before trailing off," the company said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said negotiations to release a cargo ship carrying 33 Russian-made tanks are nearly complete. But there was no word on when the ship may be released.
Ministry spokesman Vasyl Kyrylych reportedly said the crew of the MV Faina is in "satisfactory" condition.
The pirates holding the ship initially demanded a ransom of 35 million U.S. dollars, but they later lowered their demand to a reported 3 million dollars.
The ship which was hijacked on Sept. 25 is carrying tanks and other weapons which were destined for the Kenyan port of Mombasa but the ultimate destination has been a source of controversy with suggestions that the arms were headed for southern Sudan, not Kenya.
The MV Faina is currently moored off Somalia's coast close to the town of Hobyo with 20 crew members after one was killed during the attack.
Somali pirates have hijacked some 40 ships this year, and are currently holding about 15 ships along with their crews, including a giant Saudi oil tanker.
The United States, Russia, India, NATO and the European Union have all sent warships to Somalia's waters, but the piracy problem still rages.
NAIROBI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Miami-based luxury cruise ship has evaded an attack from Somali pirates as it sailed between Somalia and Yemen, a maritime official said on Tuesday.
Andrew Mwangura, of the East Africa's Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) said the Nautica, an Oceania cruise ship, was carrying 680 American, British and Australian passengers and a 400-member crew when two small fishing boats tried to intercept it on Sunday.
"The cruised ship was attacked in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday morning but no sailor was injured in the attack," Mwangura told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday.
The Miami-based Oceania Cruises said on its website that the MSNautica was sailing through the Gulf on Saturday when two small skiffs tried to intercept it.
The captain, Jurica Brajcic, increased the Nautica's speed and took evasive maneuvers. Oceania said one skiff closed to within 300 meters and fired eight rifle shots at the vessel before giving up the chase.
While cargo ships and small pleasure boats have been attacked by Somali pirates in the past, this is only the second time they have attempted to hijack a cruise ship.
"Nautica was immediately brought to flank speed and was able to outrun the two skiffs. One of the skiffs did manage to close the range to approximately 300 yards and fired eight rifle shots in the direction of the vessel before trailing off," the company said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said negotiations to release a cargo ship carrying 33 Russian-made tanks are nearly complete. But there was no word on when the ship may be released.
Ministry spokesman Vasyl Kyrylych reportedly said the crew of the MV Faina is in "satisfactory" condition.
The pirates holding the ship initially demanded a ransom of 35 million U.S. dollars, but they later lowered their demand to a reported 3 million dollars.
The ship which was hijacked on Sept. 25 is carrying tanks and other weapons which were destined for the Kenyan port of Mombasa but the ultimate destination has been a source of controversy with suggestions that the arms were headed for southern Sudan, not Kenya.
The MV Faina is currently moored off Somalia's coast close to the town of Hobyo with 20 crew members after one was killed during the attack.
Somali pirates have hijacked some 40 ships this year, and are currently holding about 15 ships along with their crews, including a giant Saudi oil tanker.
The United States, Russia, India, NATO and the European Union have all sent warships to Somalia's waters, but the piracy problem still rages.
