On its inaugural world voyage, the Cunard Line’s Queen Anne recently alarmed passengers by issuing warnings about potential piracy threats. The ship was navigating between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines, a path that traverses Indonesian waters, including the Celebes and Sulu Seas—regions notorious for piracy.
On March 14, Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge informed guests about the pirate risks as they approached these waters. She announced that the external promenade deck would be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time for two nights and instructed passengers to minimize light exposure by turning off stateroom lights and closing their curtains. The ship ultimately docked in Manila on March 16.
The concerns about piracy in these waters are rooted in historical issues associated with Islamic militant groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group, which has been linked to various criminal activities, including piracy, robbery, and kidnappings. The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration and reports from the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism have previously labeled the Sulu and Celebes Seas as significant hotspots for crime and terrorism in Southeast Asia.
Cunard Line clarified that the issuance of these precautions was a standard safety procedure and emphasized that there was no specific threat directed at the ship or its passengers. They reassured that the onboard experience remained uninterrupted despite the precautionary measures.
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