Passengers aboard the cruise ship Viking Mars received a letter from the captain advising them about the precautionary measures taken against pirate attacks as the cruise ship sailed through the Gulf of Aden. After completing its European season, the Viking Mars is now sailing a 35-Night cruise named “Voyage Of Marco Polo” from Piraeus to Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand with 1332 guests and crew.

Some of the extra security measures, taken out of an abundance of caution and not in response to a specific threat, included placing razor wire to the guardrails around deck 2, and boarding of armed guards while the ship was sailing the notorious region for Somali pirates.

“As we sail south you will see some changes around the ship as we prepare for our transit through the Gulf of Aden. This region has long been known for piratical activity and although this has been declining for some years now, we will be taking some precautions to ensure your safety.

To prevent borders, we will be fixing razor wire to the guardrails around deck 2. Do please take care when walking on the open deck to avoid injuring yourself. We will also be carrying armed guards for a number of days which has proven to be an extremely effective deterrent. There are other measures in place, but I trust you understand that in the interest of security, we do not divulge all measures we are taking,” reads the letter sent to the Viking Mars guests.

These security protocols are based on the recommendations of relevant national authorities and is standard security practice for all vessels in certain regions, including the Gulf of Aden.

Similar to merchant ships in piracy-infested waters, cruise vessels too increase vigilance, step up security, and can deploy water cannons or fire hoses if threatened as per the best management practices adopted by the shipping industry.

Cruise ships have higher standards of anti-piracy measures than those followed by merchant vessels. All security measures are not disclosed and depend upon particular company policies and their risk assessment. In addition to the standard ongoing security training, additional piracy training is conducted prior to any cruise ship entering areas of concern.

The Viking is well known for its high standards always keeping in mind the safety and security of guests and crew as a number one priority.