Somali Pirates Attack Cruise Ship Oceania Nautica At Gulf Of Aden

December 1, 2008 9:44 a.m. EST

Aden, Yemen (AHN) - Another attempt at forcibly taking a ship by Somali pirates took place Monday at the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia. The cruise ship Oceania Nautica was fired at by pirates while on its 32-day trip from Rome to Singapore.

The cruise ship had 690 passengers and 386 crew aboard. Fortunately the pirates on two small boats were not successful in their attempt because Nautica was able to outrun the pirate skiffs, said Jurica Brajcic, captain of the cruise liner.

Brajcic said one of the pirate boats got as close as 300 yards where they fired eight rifle shots. The shots did not damage Nautica nor hurt any passengers. After the unsuccessful attempt, the pirate skiffs fled.

The cruise ship is schedule to arrive in Oman Monday.

In Nigeria, Andrew Mwangura, the head of a Kenyan maritime association, said the group is negotiating with Somali pirates who captured a Ukrainian freight filled with weapons. Mwangara said the association is still finding out how it could bring the ransom money to the pirates and recover the vessel.

Meanwhile, a Somali pirate interviewed by CNN said the Somali pirate have become so desperate that attacks on merchant vessels will not halted. CNN quoted the pirate Boyah, that, "The pirates are living between life and death... Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."