German Cruise Ship Evacuates Passengers to Prevent Possible Pirate Encounter

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-159396

German Cruise Ship Evacuates Passengers to Prevent Possible Pirate
Encounter

Hodeidah, Yemen

I am in contact via email with my mother, who is with her spouse on
the German cruise ship MS. Columbus from Hapag Lloyd. The Columbus is
a "piece" of Germany constantly cruising around the world. It is only
a small ship by today's standards with only 420 passengers on board.

My mom started her trip about 10 days ago in the Mediterranean. They
were scheduled to go through the famous Suez Canal and then continue
through the red sea by the pirate infested Somalia cost towards Dubai.
Even before the journey I urged my mom not to take the trip and she
contacted the German government for advice. She was told that they
cruise ship would travel by Somalia in a convoy and that the US Navy
would control the convoy. I felt relived with that information since
an older German law does not allow the German Navy to do "anything"
unless they get directly attack. They have watched pirates taking over
ships and couldn't do anything. Luckily this is being change this
month.

Now I just received a note via email from my mother on the MS.
Columbus, that the ship is being evacuated to prevent any possible
encounter with the pirates. I guess the attempted attack on a cruise
ship last weekend concerned the German cruise line. They are unloading
all passengers in Hodeidah, Yemen and will fly them to Dubai, where
they will spend 3 days in a Hotel. Then they will fly to Salala, Oman
and continue their journey on the MS. Columbus. The Captain is facing
the potential pirate encounter with a selected crew of 50. Hopefully
he will be able to outrun the pirates!

It is getting time that the International community is doing something
against these outcasts. They are International terrorist and they
should be treated as such. So far the have only millions to gain and
nothing to lose. They are the local hero's and everybody wants to
become a pirate. It is time to change this image and the risk involved
and gain control back over the area.

My mom wanted an adventure and got more than she asked for.

Greetings from Florida,
Thomas N.