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By ED HOLT Published: 12:15 BST, 1 April 2025 | Updated: 12:17 BST, 1 April 2025
This is the terrifying moment a cruise liner is plunged into darkness as passengers are warned of the potential threat of piracy in the area.The frightening ordeal took place on the Queen Anne cruise ship as it traveled through the Sulu sea, an area notorious for pirates, on its voyage from Darwin to Manila. A passenger onboard the vessel has documented the safety precautions taken during this particularly perilous part of the journey.In her first video the TikTok user named ‘Lilydapink’ showed a warning being issued over the soundsystem from a crew member telling guests about the ‘heightened level of security’ due to the threat of piracy in the area.This included closing the external promenade deck overnight and switching off all but the essential lights to reduce the visibility of the ship. Guests are also requested to switch of lights on their balconies.The announcer then goes on to tell passengers what will happen in the ‘unlikely event of an emergency’. Which would see guests kept in their rooms or told to vacate to the corridor if they have balconies. In another video she showcases the full extent of the safety precautions being taken to prevent any acts of piracy this includes high-pressure hoses running across the deck.These are installed as a non-lethal deterrent to prevent pirates from boarding a boat in the event of an attack. They are designed to knock any invaders off their feet and make the deck slippery making it harder to board. To protect the ship from pirates, the Queen Anne switched off all but its essential lights. The lack of light pollution means the moon shining down on the ocean in now fully visible In another video the TikTok user showcases the full extent of the safety precautions being taken to prevent any acts of piracy this includes high-pressure hoses running across the deck The Queen Anne cruise ship (file image). The frightening ordeal took place on the ship as it traveled through the Sulu sea, an area notorious for pirates, on its voyage from Darwin to ManilaFinally, the passenger reveals what the Queen Anne looks like at night when the ship is plunged into darkness. In one particularly spectacular shot, the lack of light pollution means the moon shining down on the ocean in now fully visible. She then shows the eerily quiet interior of the ship with no guests enjoying a meal in the restaurant and instead heeding the warning to stay inside their rooms.The history of piracy in the region dates back as far as the 17th century and the high rate of attacks means the area is often considered the most dangerous body of water in the world. Pirates in the area are not the swashbuckling characters akin to those seen in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, they are instead opportunistic sea thieves who board ships to steal valuables. Whilst the likelihood of pirates attacking a cruise liner remains low, there has been some incidents.In 2005, the Seabourne Spirit was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia who bombarded the ship with machine guns and RPGs. The attackers were only disarmed when US Navy ship arrived at the scene. The Queen Anne is currently on its maiden world voyage. The 111-night trip began in Hamburg, Germany, on January 7 and has made stops in England, New York, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.It will return to Hamburg on April 29, after making subsequent stops in Vietnam, South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia.
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Terrifying moment cruise is plunged into darkness over safety fears
