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Commodore Warner's Announcement Re: Piracy


dc-farer

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According to a World Cruise blog (http://jryan2011.wordpress.com/), Commodore Warner made the following announcement today just before the QM2 left Cochin (a written copy of the announcement was subsequently delivered to each stateroom):

 

COCHIN

30th March

 

Dear Guest

 

Between the 30th March and the 6th April, from Cochin to Dubai and onto the Suez canal, we will be transiting an area well documented in the world’s media for piracy, in particular the Gulf of Aden, which we will transit on the 5th and 6th April.

 

Onboard Queen Mary 2, we have put in place a security plan in order to protect the ship.

 

As part of this plan, I would like to request your assistance and cooperation with the following:

 

 

  • Deck 7 external promenade deck and Deck 6 aft will be closed on both sides at night and no Guests or crew will be allowed access for the duration of the transit.

 

 

  • During hours of darkness, only essential open deck lights will be on as it is important to reduce the ship’s external lighting. With this in mind I request that you turn off your cabin lights when not required and close the curtains of your window or balcony.

 

 

  • In order to familiarize you with these additional measures prior to transiting the Gulf Of Aden, there will be a Guest and Crew drill at 10.30 on the morning of Monday 4th April. This Drill will be conducted in the interests of your personal safety and security and I respectfully request your full participation in this important exercise.

 

In the event of pirate activity, announcements will be made from the Bridge and the initial actions required by our guests will be as follows:

 

 

  • Guests are to proceed to their staterooms
  • Guests with a window or balcony should proceed to the corridor outside their stateroom and sit on either a chair or on the floor and close their stateroom door.
  • If you are in an inboard stateroom please remain inside your stateroom.
  • Your Stateroom Steward will do a check of their section area to ensure everyone is accounted for.
  • During this time Guests are not to remain on any open decks or near any external windows.

 

I must emphasise that the safety and the security of every individual on board is my highest priority and the implementation of this procedure is an important part of the ship’s security plan.

 

Signed by

 

Commodore Bernard Warner

Master RMS Queen Mary 2

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Last year I disembarked the QV World Cruise in Dubai, but had heard definite hints at similar precautions being taken then. With events since then, I'm not surprised if things have gotten even a bit tighter.

 

One other thing. As a British Flag ship QM2 is probably in a better position for real support than a ship bearing the flag of the Bahamas or Liberia.

 

Roy

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I know piracy is very serious and this is not funny, but surely any pirate taking on a ship the size of the QM2 needs locking up in a padded room??

 

Actually, Somali pirates fired on a U.S. Navy warship just about this same time last year...so I don't think we can assume that sanity is their strong suit.

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Wow... definitely being prepared.

 

If I ran Cunard, I'd have current or former Special Forces (SBS/SAS in the Brit case) in my crew and there would be a well-stocked armoury. Probably against maritime law to engage these idiot pirates but I suspect much more effective and timely than hailing a warship to come to the rescue.... even if that still ultimately happens.

 

Wonder how many navy vessels are still in this region on protection duty and how many got recalled to Libya?

 

David.

www.portfever.com

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Wow... definitely being prepared.

 

If I ran Cunard, I'd have current or former Special Forces (SBS/SAS in the Brit case) in my crew and there would be a well-stocked armoury. Probably against maritime law to engage these idiot pirates but I suspect much more effective and timely than hailing a warship to come to the rescue.... even if that still ultimately happens.

 

Nothing to do with maritime law. It's against their human rights! The only "weapons" that a cruise ship (or liner) has are glorified loudspeakers, hoses and speed. Last year, Aurora left Singapore at night to make a high speed (24.5kts) through the Malacca Straits because of pirate activity.

Frankly, the best flag to be sailing under in pirate waters is the French Tricolour. Their naval vessels are prepared to stretch the response guidelines.

 

Personally, I think that the pirate boats should be holed and the sharks left with the human rights issue.

 

:)

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The same procedure was followed last year on the QM2 world cruise. The practise drill was interesting ( met our cabin neighbours while sitting in the ahllway!)

We had visits from several navy ships from the escort patrols and felt perfectly safe.

Tom

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The whole situation is symptomatic of this crazy world when thousands of passengers in a colossal ocean liner of some 150,000 tons are ordered to turn off lights, keep off certain decks and squat in corridors in case some nut-cases in a motorised skiff decide to attack them. It simply beggars belief.

All it needs is a small contingent of trained and armed forces personnel to immediately sink any pirates who wish to chance their luck and that would be the end of piracy.

We had the same experience last year on part of a P & O World Cruise where our defence against pirates consisted of pressure hoses and sound-machines.

Nelson must be spinning in his grave.

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All it needs is a small contingent of trained and armed forces personnel to immediately sink any pirates who wish to chance their luck and that would be the end of piracy.

 

LOL... have you been listening to US Presidential candidate(?) Donald Trump?

 

He has something to say about the pirates in this interview... but then The Donald always has something to say! :)

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/donald-trump-weve-weak-13153612

 

(The views expressed in this video are neither mine nor the publishers and are shared here only for entertainment or education, depending on your point of view! :) )

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Wow... definitely being prepared.

 

If I ran Cunard, I'd have current or former Special Forces (SBS/SAS in the Brit case) in my crew and there would be a well-stocked armoury.

 

David.

www.portfever.com

 

 

Most, if not all, of the security officers are ex-Ghurkas, so in effect, Cunard do!

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Most, if not all, of the security officers are ex-Ghurkas, so in effect, Cunard do!

 

Thanks Sharon. I bow to your infinitely superior knowledge of all things Cunard.

 

I had temporarily forgotten about the Ghurkas. Any more slips like that and they'll make me go through the not-a-British-citizen line at Heathrow! :)

 

I will have to take a Cunard crossing to Southampton one of these days. On the "bucket list". One side of my family (the sea-faring side) are from there and I spent many a childhood summer in that area.

 

David.

www.portfever.com

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...Personally, I think that the pirate boats should be holed and the sharks left with the human rights issue...

 

Agreed. When pirates leave shore and don't come back that will be the end of it.

 

QM2 is a huge target and what a publicity plum she would be if pirates were to board her. She does have backward-looking radar for use in pirate territory. But since she is a high profile flagship, I suspect that any pirate encounters would be met with something more aggressive than water cannons or sound blasts.

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From my past observation, QM2 is well protected, with a well trained security crew. And the passengers on QM2 are also well trained. No one can board QM2 without permission.

 

Happy to read that Commodore Warner is in command.

 

Cheers,

Salacia

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Wow... definitely being prepared.

 

If I ran Cunard, I'd have current or former Special Forces (SBS/SAS in the Brit case) in my crew and there would be a well-stocked armoury. Probably against maritime law to engage these idiot pirates but I suspect much more effective and timely than hailing a warship to come to the rescue.... even if that still ultimately happens.

 

Wonder how many navy vessels are still in this region on protection duty and how many got recalled to Libya?

 

David.

 

PortFever, please trust me on this: Cunard does not scrimp on security.

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Perhaps for this transit the corporate bean counters will allow the

Commodore to sail at the high speed QM2 was built for?:eek:

 

Hi foodsvcmgr. My guess is that the Commodore will sail at whatever speed he feels is necesary, and I doubt that the bean counters will question his judgement, and if they do, there will be hell to pay.

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According to a World Cruise blog (http://jryan2011.wordpress.com/), Commodore Warner made the following announcement today just before the QM2 left Cochin (a written copy of the announcement was subsequently delivered to each stateroom):

 

COCHIN

30th March

 

Dear Guest

 

Between the 30th March and the 6th April, from Cochin to Dubai and onto the Suez canal, we will be transiting an area well documented in the world’s media for piracy, in particular the Gulf of Aden, which we will transit on the 5th and 6th April.

 

Onboard Queen Mary 2, we have put in place a security plan in order to protect the ship.

 

As part of this plan, I would like to request your assistance and cooperation with the following:

 

 

  • Deck 7 external promenade deck and Deck 6 aft will be closed on both sides at night and no Guests or crew will be allowed access for the duration of the transit.

 

  • During hours of darkness, only essential open deck lights will be on as it is important to reduce the ship’s external lighting. With this in mind I request that you turn off your cabin lights when not required and close the curtains of your window or balcony.

 

  • In order to familiarize you with these additional measures prior to transiting the Gulf Of Aden, there will be a Guest and Crew drill at 10.30 on the morning of Monday 4th April. This Drill will be conducted in the interests of your personal safety and security and I respectfully request your full participation in this important exercise.

In the event of pirate activity, announcements will be made from the Bridge and the initial actions required by our guests will be as follows:

 

 

  • Guests are to proceed to their staterooms
  • Guests with a window or balcony should proceed to the corridor outside their stateroom and sit on either a chair or on the floor and close their stateroom door.
  • If you are in an inboard stateroom please remain inside your stateroom.
  • Your Stateroom Steward will do a check of their section area to ensure everyone is accounted for.
  • During this time Guests are not to remain on any open decks or near any external windows.

I must emphasise that the safety and the security of every individual on board is my highest priority and the implementation of this procedure is an important part of the ship’s security plan.

 

Signed by

 

Commodore Bernard Warner

Master RMS Queen Mary 2

 

dc-farer;28564527, thank you for your post. Are you currently on board QM2? Regards -S.

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dc-farer;28564527, thank you for your post. Are you currently on board QM2? Regards -S.

 

No -- I disembarked in Cape Town, but met the Ryans on board, so enjoy following their blog.

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How was your voyage? - Yes, the Ryans blog is much appreciated. -S

 

It was superb in every way -- had a fabulous time....and absolutely loved Cape Town!! Am returning there next year, but not sure when I will return to the Queen Mary 2 -- hopefully soon.

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Glad to hear you had a good time. Friends recently returned from Cape Town (not on a cruise). They did not have a good time in Cape Town.

 

Hard for me to imagine -- there is so much to see and do in Cape Town and elsewhere in South Africa...but then, can't really respond since you weren't specific as to why they did not have a good time. Actually, next year -- prior to boarding my ship in Cape Town -- am planning to volunteer for a few weeks at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Should be wonderful!

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Most, if not all, of the security officers are ex-Ghurkas, so in effect, Cunard do!

 

As Queen Mary 2, is registered in Southampton, she is subject to the rules of the Flag State, ie: UK and is forbidden from carrying "weapons of war". The question of armed security on board ships of all flags is not encouraged, although at present, this is subject to debate. There is concern that armed guards will only escalate matters.

 

At present, there are over 300 crew members being held by pirates and the "at risk" area stretches from the Gulf of Oman down the coast of East Africa to the Straits of Madagascar. Paying a ransom is not illegal....

 

Cunard are just being prudent and following the current advice to ship owners.

 

If you want to find out about piracy, take a look at the International Chamber of Commerce web site. It has a teal time piracy map and will answer many

questions. I hope this helps.

 

http://www.icc-ccs.org/

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As Queen Mary 2, is registered in Southampton, she is subject to the rules of the Flag State, ie: UK and is forbidden from carrying "weapons of war". The question of armed security on board ships of all flags is not encouraged, although at present, this is subject to debate.

http://www.icc-ccs.org/

 

Without trying to be smart or pedantic, the Ghurka Regiments are not "special forces", but highly trained well motivated and respected infanteers.

 

Cunard has a long association with the SBS (real special forces) who used to train regularly on board ships such as QE2. There has been suggestions that covert activities are on going, but nobody will ever admit this.

 

Attacking the QM2 would be like firing a pea shooter at an elephant.

 

Interestingly, on the recent TV series featuring HMS Manchester in the Carribean, when they came across an abandoned drug smugglers fast boat, they were unable to sink it. They tried cannon fire, 7.62mm machine gun fire, a petrol fire, then had to get aboard with a grinder to cut holes in it. So maybe these wee skiffs are harder to sink than you think. Best just to knock out their engines and wave goodbye.

 

Stewart

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