Press Releases

United States Government Support To Attacked Cruise Ship Seabourn Spirit

November 10, 2005 

The U.S. Government provided immediate support to the passengers attacked by pirates on Saturday, November 5 off the coast of Somalia.  Two small speedboats attacked the Seabourn Spirit with 151 passengers and 161 crew members onboard.  Forty-eight of the passengers are American citizens.  There were no injuries among the passengers, but one crew member was slightly injured by shrapnel.  

On Saturday, November 5th an American Consular Officer was dispatched to the Seychelles from the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis to meet the Seabourn Spirit upon its arrival in Victoria.   The U.S. Government has also sent a psychiatrist, and two FBI investigators are in the Seychelles investigating the incident.  The American Consular Officer has reported that the passengers are in good health and spirits.    

The U.S. Navy also responded on Monday, November 7th to a request to dispose of suspected unexploded ordnance left over from a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) that struck the cruise liner Seabourn Spirit during the November 5 attack.  Members of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit Eight, Detachment Four were already in Seychelles to provide support to a previously scheduled port visit by USS Gonzales.   The EOD team met Seabourn Spirit at sea prior to its arrival to   Victoria, Seychelles.  Technicians from the Navy team made a thorough inspection of both the suspected unexploded ordnance and the impact area of a second RPG.   The technicians determined that the object was actually the remains of a rocket motor and not the warhead from the RPG that had detonated on impact.

The U.S. Government released a Public Announcement dated September 23, 2005 reminding U.S. citizens of continuing potential terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and noted the dangers of maritime piracy near the Horn of Africa.  U.S. citizens are encouraged to refer to http://travel.state.gov/ before traveling abroad and to register with the local Embassy or Consulate.