The changing face of cruising in the Med.

[goboatingnow]

As my son said it will not be the people we know but their friends or friends of friends.

Actually its often the people you know. I have met ( and know ) several former " terrorists " they are often the " nicest " of people and make interesting dinner party guests !

[Polux]

Originally Posted by weavis

If you are sailing in the Eastern part of the Med, it may not have escaped your notice that there seems to be more military traffic in the area. A google search using the phrase "More Military presence in the med?" will enlighten you as to what is going on.

Yes it was expected face to the ISIS threat.

ISIS In Europe: Italy Bolsters Military Presence In Mediterranean Against Threats In North Africa

Originally Posted by weavis

I spent a few hours reading up on the safety of cruise ships, and basically, it now would appear that a lot of the liners have resorted to armed protection.
.... Armed attack boats are heading out from the African coast a lot more.

I heard nothing about this (and I follow Italian news). Can you post a link regarding armed attack boats heading out from the African coast? Or liners having armed protection on the Mediterranean?
...

Originally Posted by weavis

some experts had been predicting that a terrorist attack against cruise ships in the region was likely. Jim Walker, a Miami-based maritime lawyer who runs the website Cruise Law News, wrote in February that “there are numerous studies by security companies and U.S. governmental organizations which have studied terrorist organizations and concluded that terrorism against cruise ships is likely.”.. “But sailing into a port in Morocco, Tunisia, or Egypt on a cruise ship? It’s not a matter of if. It’s just a matter of when.”

I believe he is stating the danger regarding cruise ships visiting North African ports and I believe he is right. The continuous destabilization of all region and the havoc that is lived there could only lead to that. Libya used to be a very strong state with a tight control on its population

Much more worrying than some tourists not to be able to visit some ports of North of Africa is the humanitarian crisis on all region: only from Libya last year 170,000 refugees tried to escape in small boats in precarious conditions to Italy and Turkey, with many dying in sinking boats. The number of refugees in the region are many millions. Just in Syria and Iraq:

"The humanitarian situation in Syria remains extremely challenging. In the fourth year of the conflict, there are more than 3 million Syrian refugees in the region....Inside Syria, an estimated 10.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including some 6.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs). ...

In Iraq, the deteriorating security situation and armed conflict in Anbar and Ninewa Governorates have triggered new waves of internal displacement. As estimated by the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), some 1.8 million people were displaced by insecurity in Iraq between January and September 2014, and heavy fighting has continued to force people to flee to other parts of the country."

UNHCR - Middle East and North Africa

[barnakiel]

You know there are the pirates and then there are the tax pirates. Med is probably so thick with cruising boats that I think it can only go from bad to worse now. The east shore is so thick with religion and politicks that it can only go to a climax now.

Situation in the East? Well, say thank you to the nation that will go everywhere and mess everything. Then turn 90 degrees and say another thank you to the nations that have a problem on their doorstep and are doing nothing.

Too bad, but then again hey it's a sunny day, somewhere elsewhere.

b.

[weavis]

from 2011.
IMO Passes the Buck to Flag States Regarding Armed Guards on Cruise Ships : Cruise Law News

One of my patients is a cruise ship guard.

Pirates Beware: Cruise Line Purchases Acoustic Hailing Device : Cruise Law News

Cruise companies will not publish details of weaponry on board. However, its a lot of them.

[weavis]

They have been doing test runs for whatever reason.

I have a colleague in Malta at a medical clinic and he is involved with security personnel on the Island.

Britain to expect 'boats full of terrorists' as ISIS tightens grip on Libya | Daily Mail Online

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by weavis

They have been doing test runs for whatever reason.

I have a colleague in Malta at a medical clinic and he is involved with security personnel on the Island.

Britain to expect 'boats full of terrorists' as ISIS tightens grip on Libya | Daily Mail Online

ah yes The Daily Mail. a paragon of reasonable debate.

[weavis]

However, its not for me to second guess what people do. It was merely to point out that the landscape will be changing and areas will become more dangerous to travel in.

There are parts of Bristol in the UK that you dont want to be near at night..

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Actually its often the people you know. I have met ( and know ) several former " terrorists " they are often the " nicest " of people and make interesting dinner party guests !

A very illuminating post. Helps to understand at least in part you're rather over the top, radical, no peace at any cost due to historical events that give some cause still to strike out at others, viewpoints.

We have all heard the saying, birds of a feather flock together...

[boatman61]

Think that was the reaction to the hi-jacked cruise ship a few years back where a guy in a wheelchair was killed or something near to it.. memories rusty and can't be bothered Googling...

[weavis]

wow.

fight starting..........

[Polux]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

T...
However to date home grown radical Islam , is more of a problem. Hard to protect your citizens from your citizens
Dave

Yes and that can only succeed through integration.
Many European are Joining ISIS coming from radical Islam groups inside European Muslim communities. Mostly youngsters that have born there but that were never integrated and felt excluded.

Isis: '10,000 Europeans could be fighting for Islamic State by 2016' warns French PM

There are some Portuguese among them but as Muslims in Portugal point out not a single one that lived in Portugal and belonged to the Portuguese Muslim community were Muslims are integrated. Being integrated means to belong and to be proud of the community. Europeans have to work harder in promoting the integration of Muslims. That's the only way to stop recruiting.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Think that was the reaction to the hi-jacked cruise ship a few years back where a guy in a wheelchair was killed or something near to it.. memories rusty and can't be bothered Googling...

I dont think so.

Google will reveal a lot of what is changing in politics over the last month or so. A lot more going on than on the surface and takes some joining of the dots.

Is it a valid rationale? Who knows. Politics plays its own game and they dont bother telling us mere mortals the real reason. However Im reasonably sure it benefits someone to have conflict and divides.

Six months will give the fuller picture. Things move fast these days. The game plan is well afoot.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Wrong

A very illuminating post. Helps to understand at least in part you're rather over the top, radical, no peace at any cost due to historical events that give some cause still to strike out at others, viewpoints.

We have all heard the saying, birds of a feather flock together...

I think you miss my point, Terrorists are Terrorists one day, they next day there are cabinet ministers.

If you then ( a few years later) meet one and have chat you realise these are not monsters ( even if you think they are) they are often quite remarkable

remember the British regarded George Washington as in effect a " terrorist "

I view history as muddy , murky , which no " good " or " evil", conflict resolution also tends to murky , muddy and full of hypocrisy.

Idealism and righteousness frighten me on all sides.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Idealism and righteousness frighten me on all sides.

Followed by Nationalism......

[Polux]

Originally Posted by weavis

from 2011.
IMO Passes the Buck to Flag States Regarding Armed Guards on Cruise Ships : Cruise Law News

One of my patients is a cruise ship guard.

Pirates Beware: Cruise Line Purchases Acoustic Hailing Device : Cruise Law News

Cruise companies will not publish details of weaponry on board. However, its a lot of them.

Nothing in there says that on Med cruise ships are armed protected. In fact I don't believe it. It is so far away from European way to look at that matter that it does not make sense, A ship that would be found with war guns aboard would be in deep trouble with any European authority. Even if in case of attack they would resort to them...in the end they would be in deep **** just for having them aboard anyway.