(1) Normally the pirates don't kill anyone; they just steal the cargo or ransom it and the crew. If the ships were armed, some or all of the crew might be killed.
Deployment of armed guards on merchant ships to protect them from acts of piracy. Piracy is one of the major threats to maritime security in the shipping industry. However, a decrease in piracy incidents is observed. The most important reason is the use of armed guards onboard ships.
The pirate attacks have fallen, and the pirate fairy tales have faded over the years, but it remains a threat to passengers in the modern day. A pirate attack on a ship happens more often than you would think. However, now more pirates are attacking cruise ships rather than cargo ships.
Other known precautions taken include placing razor wire around the outer edges of the hand rails to prevent pirates from using grappling hooks to climb onboard. This is sometimes even joined by bundles of logs that can be released onto smaller boats that attempt to attach themselves to the hull.
In colonial times, merchant ships carried cannons and weapons comparable to those found on naval vessels. Weapons were used by the crew to defend the ship and crew against attacks by pirates, privateers and enemy warships.
Speed was very important: if they could not run down their prey, they would never capture anything. It was also necessary to outrun pirate hunters and navy ships. They needed to be well-armed in order to win fights. Blackbeard, Sam Bellamy, and Black Bart Roberts had massive gunboats and were very successful.
Do ship captains carry guns? Cruise ship captains do not carry guns. However, the captain and the staff captain can give permission to the security team to arm themselves if necessary in order to protect the guests and crew members from an immediate threat.
Most cruise ships are capable of outrunning the small skiffs used by pirates.
If a ship is sinking, maritime tradition dictates that the captain ensures the safe evacuation of every passenger before he evacuates himself. He (or she) is responsible for the lives of those onboard, and he can't coordinate their exit unless he's the last person off.
Cruise passengers ordered to turn off lights, music for 10 days to avoid pirate attack. It was supposed to be a magical 104-day world cruise aboard the Sea Princess for the 1,900 passengers who shelled out tens of thousands of dollars.
Discovered off the coast of Wellfleet, MA, the Whydah Gally is the world's only authenticated pirate ship. Learn more about its fascinating history.
“In the past, pirates stole gold, silver, gemstones, and rum barrels. Nowadays, they are taking over merchant ships and looting onboard containers. Oil tankers are seized by pirates mid-sea and are being held for ransom.
The U.S. Navy takes a strong stand against piracy, and is part of an international task force dedicated to the issue. Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) includes sophisticated monitoring of the world's oceans by both ships and aircraft.
Together with ships from several other nations, Royal Navy vessels patrol these waters as part of the EU-wide effort to consign piracy to the history books. Their ultimate aim is to counter piracy, improve maritime security, and protect the thousands of cargo ships that cross the area each year.
Shipping companies have not wanted to arm crew members because of fears that merchant seamen were liable to cause more damage than they prevented, including the risk of inaccurate gun fire on an oil tanker or other vessel with flammable cargo. Even trained guards present problems.
The incident was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the U.S. flag since the early 19th century. Many news reports cited the last pirate seizure as being during the Second Barbary War in 1815, although other incidents are believed to have occurred until at least 1822.
Nowadays, most pirate attacks are committed in the Singapore Straits and off the coast of Peru.
Typically the jail onboard is below deck in the marshaling area where provisions are loaded or somewhere along I-95 (the route that runs through the middle of the ship). However, cruise lines don't use the onboard jail as much as they used to. Instead, many lines will confine guests in their cabins.
Sailors and pirates tended to be very superstitious - that is, they had a fear of the unknown and used it to explain misfortune (bad things that happened). Living and working on a ship in the middle of the seven seas was a very dangerous job.
Article I, Section 8, clause 10 gives Congress the power to “define and punish piracy and felonies on the high seas and offenses against the law of nations.” With that power, in 1790, Congress enacted the first anti-piracy law.
Captainess Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster.
Though unlikely, hijackers or pirates may try to take control of a ship. Cruise companies see the risk of this kind of terrorism. In response, many cruise companies place armed security on each of their ships. These trained professionals are ready to defend the passengers on board.
There is no universal maritime law that states a captain must go down with their ship. Such a broad statement would not apply to every scenario, such as a situation where a vessel is sinking but all crew members and passengers have already been rescued.