PIRACY: Somalia - Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Cruise Ship Balmoral came under fire four times during an attempted attack by armed Somali Pirates in two boats.

Two small craft were spotted Tuesday morning as they closed quickly on the 43,000-ton and 715-ft long Cruise Ship, carrying more than 1,300 passengers on a round-the-world cruise came had to take evasive actions including severe zigzag course to shake off the pirates

The pirates armed with AK's and RPG rocket launchers circled the ship and came within 400 yards of the cruise ship. Witnesses stated that people were frightened and in tears and could hear shooting.

The Balmoral's crew made emergency calls, sent up distress flares and evacuated the passengers to designated safe havens on the Balmoral.

The attack was only averted by the intervention of a U.S. Navy ship which escorted the cruise vessel through the perilous Gulf of Aden.