Passengers aboard a British cruise ship in the Indian Ocean had a terrifying experience Wednesday when they were being pursued by Somali Pirates, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The 350 passengers aboard the Spirit of Adventure were ordered to take shelter below deck as a speed boat carrying pirates drew alongside the cruise ship.
"It was a really terrifying ordeal. We were eating dinner and then ordered below deck with our heads bowed. The captain sped up and tried to outrun the pirates," passenger Susie Browne told the Daily Telegraph.
"They told us to sit on the floor and the doors were barricaded. We were told they had spotted pirates 2 miles behind us. We were told to keep our heads down in case they shot us through the windows. Then we were told they were up beside us. Everyone was calm," Browne added.
Naval authorities were contacted after the ship was able to outpace the pirates.
"The Spirit of Adventure was followed by a suspect vessel for about an hour this evening. After guests were moved down to the middle of the ship the captain sped up to full speed and the vessel went away. We think it was scouting out the ship. Usually pirates are not interested in passenger ships, but in cargo ones which have a higher value. There are well rehearsed procedures that are put in place for this sort of incident," a cruise spokesman told the paper.
The Spirit of Adventure was traveling from Madagascar to Zanzibar at the time of the incident.
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