Terrorist Preparedness @ Sea

[pa-annie]

Today’s reality … You hear all the time about terrorist preparedness for mass transit like planes, trains/subways. You’re in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go, and help is likely a long way off. So ... I guess I’m wondering what do cruise lines do to protect passengers and crew?

 

 

What training do officers and crew receive?

 

 

Are there equivalents to Air Marshals (Sea Marshals I guess)on board?

 

 

How well is luggage and cargo screened? How well are crew members screened and vetted?

 

 

The Coast Guard requires a muster drill, why not an active shooter drill like in schools?

 

 

Anytime you here of a mishap at sea the cruise line inevitably states: “our passenger’s safety is our highest priority”, I hope that’s the case.

 

BZ

Edited January 24, 2018 by pa-annie
signiture, sp

[dkjretired]

Today’s reality … You here all the time about terrorist preparedness for mass transit like planes, trains/subways. You’re in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go, and help is likely a long way off. So ... I guess I’m wondering what do cruise lines do to protect passengers and crew?

 

 

What training do officers and crew receive?

 

 

Are there equivalents to Air Marshals (Sea Marshals I guess)on board?

 

 

 

 

How well is luggage and cargo screened? How well are crew members screened and vetted?

 

 

The Coast Guard requires a muster drill, why not an active shooterdrill like in schools?

 

 

Anytime you here of a mishap at sea the cruise line inevitably states: “our passenger’s safety is our highest priority”, I hope that’s the case.

 

BZ

 

I have a friend who worked in security at Celebrity and they do take these things seriously. I would be ABSOLUTELY DEAD SET against an active shooter drill.

[Lady Arwen]

This past May, when we were on Koningsdam in the Med, we did have a mock "terrorist attack" while we were docked at the port near Brussels. We were informed by the Captain the day prior that this exercise would be taking place and that although both the "terrorists" and the "soldiers" would be armed, there was no ammunition being brought onboard. We we told not to be concerned if they were spotted in hallways or around the ship. Talk about excitement! Helicopters hovering over the ship. Bad guys trying to get onboard! Soldiers in full gear storming the decks! It was like being on a movie set. After the exercise was over, good guys and bad guys all lined up for a photo-op! A lot of them ended up in the Lido buffet having a cup of tea! Trust me, it was taken very seriously at the time of the action onboard.

[Keys2Heaven]

This will probably come out wrong, but I've told my wife many times that if a terrorist organization really wanted to make a statement, they could target a cruise ship. I've always wondered why you've never really heard of them being attacked, and not that I want them to! I guess with the tremendous amount of people onboard, there would be a fairly sizeable repel borders crew. I wonder what kind of weapons are onboard.

[TeeRick]

Anybody remember the Achille Lauro terrorist attack in 1985?

[Silkroad]

Anybody remember the Achille Lauro terrorist attack in 1985?

 

Yes. I was thinking of the same incident.

[sanger727]

I have quite a lot of training for these types of attacks. I can see three scenarios.

 

1. Ship is docked. Someone can rush on by force and began an attack with any style of attack. The cruise line may or may not be prepared for this type of attack but since they are docked, local law enforcement can be called to deal with it. Not unlike a hotel situation.

 

2. Attack at sea. Prevention for this type of attack really depends on their security measures. Keep in mind that every time you board the ship you go through a metal detector and all baggage is screened. So no one should be able to get a gun onboard. Assuming they are able to accomplish that, an onboard attack would rely on handheld methods like knives. Still dangerous but much easier to subdue.

 

3. If close enough to land could have the boat overtaken by someone armed in another boat or helicopter. Think captain Phillips. No idea how they are prepared for those situations but assume it’s similar where their primary safety is to keep whoever it is from boarding.

 

 

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[Silkroad]

And it doesn’t hurt for pax to keep their eyes open. Remember the MSC Melody? A passenger spotted the pirate vessel, and she and others began throwing deck chairs overboard at the pirate climbing the side of the ship, while others alerted the Captain and crew.

[jc3443]

I have quite a lot of training for these types of attacks. I can see three scenarios.

 

2. Attack at sea. Prevention for this type of attack really depends on their security measures. Keep in mind that every time you board the ship you go through a metal detector and all baggage is screened. So no one should be able to get a gun onboard. Assuming they are able to accomplish that, an onboard attack would rely on handheld methods like knives. Still dangerous but much easier to subdue.

 

I snipped the above quote for brevity. I agree, except that it would be fairly easy for someone with access to get weapons aboard. With all of the pallets of fresh fruit and supplies that get loaded at ports, it would not be difficult. Now of course this would require having likely multiple people on the inside working loading, etc.

 

As for passengers being screened, I really wonder how effective it is. I know TSA misses things all the time...

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/airplane-mode/disturbing-undercover-probe-found-tsa-screeners-missing-many-test-weapons-n819191

 

I'm not sure if that speaks more to the TSA being incompetent or poorly trained, or just the sheer difficulty in detecting everything.

[4774Papa]

I know people that cruised on a ship that went through the Horn of Africa. Somali pirates were and perhaps still are a threat. They said some security people (armed) came on board and word was there were some former Navy Seals in that group.

[gerelmx]

One of the new policies: prohibited articles: non-alcoholic beverages. I have read more restrictions for the one with a water pack.

I believe that the rules of the articles allowed on board will be stricter, as in the airplanes, also the security controls will be more exhaustive.

[Keys2Heaven]

I have quite a lot of training for these types of attacks. I can see three scenarios.

 

1. Ship is docked. Someone can rush on by force and began an attack with any style of attack. The cruise line may or may not be prepared for this type of attack but since they are docked, local law enforcement can be called to deal with it. Not unlike a hotel situation.

 

2. Attack at sea. Prevention for this type of attack really depends on their security measures. Keep in mind that every time you board the ship you go through a metal detector and all baggage is screened. So no one should be able to get a gun onboard. Assuming they are able to accomplish that, an onboard attack would rely on handheld methods like knives. Still dangerous but much easier to subdue.

 

3. If close enough to land could have the boat overtaken by someone armed in another boat or helicopter. Think captain Phillips. No idea how they are prepared for those situations but assume it’s similar where their primary safety is to keep whoever it is from boarding.

 

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Or the terrorist group has anti-ship missiles that it can use.

[dabear]

We went through the straits of Hormuizs (sp) in the middle east on the Regent Voyager a few years ago. In addition to the muster drill there was a second drill for terriorist attacks. There were special security and safety measures on the ship, many of which the pax were not informed of (which probably is better) and minor events occurred including an Iranian helicopter flying overhead and an alleged fishing vessel encroaching within the 3 mile barrier established by the captain. Each time a warning was issued. I won't mention some of the security that I saw or later found out, but be sure that some (or possibly all lines at least traveling in dangerous waters) do take security measures seriously.

[G.M.T.]

Don't forget the Seabourn Spirit that got hit by a RPG off the Somilian Coast back in 2005:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4409662.stm

 

DW and I always take our own personal security very seriously - see attached.

 

Of course the ultimate deterent would be to have dear MiL onboard, but she is on permanent loan to Loch Ness.

[Fouremco]

Great shots! :D

[Oceangoer2]

Don't forget the Seabourn Spirit that got hit by a RPG off the Somilian Coast back in 2005:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4409662.stm

 

DW and I always take our own personal security very seriously - see attached.

 

Of course the ultimate deterent would be to have dear MiL onboard, but she is on permanent loan to Loch Ness.

 

Re 2nd scenario....and you found our photo where??

[goodthatwontcomeout]

Don't forget the Seabourn Spirit that got hit by a RPG off the Somilian Coast back in 2005:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4409662.stm

 

DW and I always take our own personal security very seriously - see attached.

 

Of course the ultimate deterent would be to have dear MiL onboard, but she is on permanent loan to Loch Ness.

Haha!

 

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[Hotel CA]

Don't forget the Seabourn Spirit that got hit by a RPG off the Somilian Coast back in 2005:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4409662.stm

 

DW and I always take our own personal security very seriously - see attached.

 

Of course the ultimate deterent would be to have dear MiL onboard, but she is on permanent loan to Loch Ness.

 

You really seemed to age between the 2 "incidents"--but you seem like perfect cruise companions!!!

[Wayfairers]

When we went through the Suez Canal twice on a cruise in 2016 and were off the coast of Somalia we had extra armed security on board and people on watch 24 hours/day. Also the water cannons were ready if needed. When we came back through the canal we had a military escort - not sure if we did on the first trip through.

 

On the trip back we had a small boat coming straight at the side of the ship possibly on an intercept path. The guard got on the radio, we changed courses and the smaller boat did too in opposite directions. Then an Italian military boat chased down the smaller boat.

 

 

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[champagne123]

It's funny OP. I proposed this question a couple of years after 9/11. If suicide terrorists can bring down 2 of the tallest buildings in the world and kill thousands of people, they can certainly do it to a cruise ship, with upwards of 6,000 people. The responses to my "crazy" question, was not well received. I guess things have changed over the years. :confused:

[Keys2Heaven]

It's funny OP. I proposed this question a couple of years after 9/11. If suicide terrorists can bring down 2 of the tallest buildings in the world and kill thousands of people, they can certainly do it to a cruise ship, with upwards of 6,000 people. The responses to my "crazy" question, was not well received. I guess things have changed over the years. :confused:

 

Yeah, this is exactly what I've thought many times as well.

[leisuretraveler223]

In it's current construct, muster drills are a colossal waste of time that likely provide no increased probability of safely evacuating the ship. I have no doubt an "active shooter drill" would be even more pointless.

[Keys2Heaven]

In it's current construct, muster drills are a colossal waste of time that likely provide no increased probability of safely evacuating the ship. I have no doubt an "active shooter drill" would be even more pointless.

 

Much in the same way that hospitals mandate that all employees receive the flu vaccine every year, when there is no proof that this helps reduce new flu cases. It is done primarily to give the illusion to the general public that health facilities are safe.

[G.M.T.]

You really seemed to age between the 2 "incidents"--but you seem like perfect cruise companions!!!

The miracle of photoshop.

[kernow]

We did the Suez canal transit on Constellation in Nov. Sailing near the Somali coast we had a safe haven drill for all passengers, increased security guards onboard and were not allowed outside on open decks after dark. There also seemed to be other measures that they did not go into detail about to passengers.

 

I think they take security very seriously

 

Julie