Cruise Ship Evades Pirates In Gulf Of Aden, Passengers Unhurt From Gunfire

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AHN) - A U.S. cruise ship with 1,000 passengers and crew aboard had a five-minute brush with pirates in the Gulf of Aden but escaped hijacking without casualty by using its speed.

The Malaysia-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which monitors piracy around the world, reported Tuesday that the hijacking attempt happened on Sunday while the MS Nautica of Oceania Cruises Inc. was in the Gulf of Aden en route to Oman from Egypt.

"Pirates chased and shot at a US cruise liner, but the larger boat was faster than the pirates' vessels," said IMB head Noel Choong, according to Afrola.com.

The ship's captain turned to flank speed when two pirate boats emerged from 1,000 yards away. One of the boats managed to come closer by 300 yards and the pirates fired at the ship before turning back.

No one was hurt because the captain had ordered passengers and crews to remain inside enclosed areas, according to Oceania spokesman Tim Rubacky.

The ship and its passengers arrived safely in Oman on Monday.