# The cruise ship M/S Nautica out ran pirate speedboats...how fast can it go? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379 "2008-12-02T19:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/1 "2008-12-02T19:36:41Z")
[Here.](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/world/africa/03pirates.html?ref=world) I never thought a cruise ship could go this fast, I’m sure the pirates don’t have cigar boats or anything but with their steady trade I figure they’d have some decent equipment. How fast can the cruise ship go? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/2 "2008-12-02T19:58:02Z")
I’d be willing to bet that the Nautica had an advantage due to the sea state. Little boats can’t plow through waves like a big one can. That and not being caught by asleep at the switch. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/3 "2008-12-02T20:27:54Z")
The Disney Magic, the only cruise ship I’ve been on, had a top speed of 25 knots if I recall correctly. The wiki page for the [Nautica](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Nautica) lists 18 knots, but I don’t know if that is the cruising speed or the max speed. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/4 "2008-12-02T20:45:49Z")
I wonder if the quoted max speed of a cruise ship is an I’m-going-to-be-late max speed or if it’s an omfg-it’s-freaking-PIRATES-with-freaking-MACHINE-GUNS max speed. Anyone know the specifics on how these speed specs are set? ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/5 "2008-12-02T20:49:59Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > Anyone know the specifics on how these speed specs are set? [Sea trials](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_trials) I imagine. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/6 "2008-12-02T21:05:53Z")
CNN says 23 knots or 27mph. > **[Luxury cruise ship outruns pirates - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/01/pirates.cruise.ship/index.html?iref=newssearch)** > > A 30,000-ton luxury cruise ship outran pirates off the coast of Yemen this weekend, the ship's owner said Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/7 "2008-12-02T21:58:07Z")
Of course, if the captain can get all 1,000 people on board rowing in unison … ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/8 "2008-12-02T22:04:18Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > CNN says 23 knots or 27mph. > > [Luxury cruise ship outruns pirates - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/01/pirates.cruise.ship/index.html?iref=newssearch) As was said above, I’m sure a ship that large going 23 knots kicks up a mean wake for a small motor boat trying to catch up. Thanks for the answers. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/9 "2008-12-03T00:49:40Z")
I don’t think the wake would be a problem as the pirate vessels apparently came from the side and tried to cross the cruise vessel’s path. I think \*\*UncleRojelio \*\*probably nails it. The industry newspaper to which I have access (subscription only, sorry no link) says the cruise vessel was doing “over 20 knots” which in calm seas is not very fast for any sort of small vessel fitted with a decent outboard. The other factors are likely to be that (a) the pirates may not actually have been very enthusiastic about the exercise. They haven’t taken on a cruise vessel before. Having a thousand passengers to look after would be a whole other thing to what they have attempted before and way more trouble than it’s worth. Kidnapping and holding to ransom a few crew largely from third world nations is one thing, but 1000 people from the first world? The hammer would fall on the pirates big time. I suspect they may have started to give chase then thought “actually, do we really want to do this?” (b) there are warships with helicopters in the area now and the pirates know they now may have only a very short window before help arrives. If they have to chase for a quarter hour or so before they get on board, they are at risk of caught before they reach the all important defensive position of having hostages to shield themselves from attack. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/10 "2008-12-03T01:52:19Z")
A unregulated ship has a full speed ahead and then an emergency full ahead. On a motor vessel it would mean over ridding the govenor and squezzing maybe 1 to 2 knotts more. The fastest cruze ship was the SS United States. She was a regulated ship her full speed was around 34 Knotts. But in war time extra nozzles could be open and her design max speed was reported over 40 Knotts. Until around 1971 her hull and engineroom were clasififed. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/11 "2008-12-03T03:38:50Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > I wonder if the quoted max speed of a cruise ship is an I’m-going-to-be-late max speed or if it’s an omfg-it’s-freaking-PIRATES-with-freaking-MACHINE-GUNS max speed. Anyone know the specifics on how these speed specs are set? There are also going to be things like insurance which probably generally restrict operating speeds to X knots. In case of emergency, I’m quite sure a captain or two has put the throttles to the stops and went all Kirk & Scotty on the engine room. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/12 "2008-12-03T04:05:54Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > There are also going to be things like insurance which probably generally restrict operating speeds to X knots. Not as such. However, (in the broadest terms) it could be said that if one suffered a loss while operating, with the owner’s concurrence, at a speed that was inappropriate for the conditions or the design spec of the engine or vessel, you might find that your insurer would seek to rely on various general warranties to try to exclude any claim for that loss. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/13 "2008-12-03T04:48:37Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > There are also going to be things like insurance which probably generally restrict operating speeds to X knots. In case of emergency, I’m quite sure a captain or two has put the throttles to the stops and went all Kirk & Scotty on the engine room. Captian can’t touch the throttles and would probably be thrown out of the engine room if he went in there without the Chief’s permission. On a motor ship the govenors could be overridden to get a knot or two more beyond tht the overspeed safties would trip. If it was a diesel electric with Isopod motors then the hotel load could be dropped and some load shifted to the main buss. But I am not sure the drive could be overrode. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/14 "2008-12-03T05:08:51Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > Captian can’t touch the throttles… Many modern commercial vessels have the throttles under direct bridge control, so this isn’t totally correct. Certainly I think there’s no way you could override the governors from the bridge, so I agree with you to that extent. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/15 "2008-12-03T05:57:09Z")
How hard would it be to actually board a cruise ship that’s going 23 knots? Don’t these ships pretty much have to stop for the pirates to board them? I thought their modus operandi was to motor up next to a ship and threaten it with RPGs and machine gun fire if it didn’t stop so they could board. Maybe it was more a game of chicken - the Captain might have gambled that there was no way in hell the pirates would going to fire on a cruise ship, so by just ignoring them and pouring on the coals he simply gave them more hassle than they wanted to deal with. The Somali pirates survive and keep on operating because they are very careful not to kill anyone. It happens, but it’s rare. That means the crews know they’ll survive if they suddender, and the shipping companies essentially pay them off by taking on high insurane premiums to cover the losses. But if they start killing masses of people, the game’s over. It’s like hijackings. Before 9/11, the rule of thumb was that you cooperated with a hijacker, because if you cooperated you were almost certain to eventually walk away alive. Then 9/11 happened, and now fif you try to hijack a plane you’ll have grannies beat you with their canes, and half the men on the plane coming at you with whatever weapons they could improvise. So there have been very few hijackings in the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/16 "2008-12-03T06:06:28Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > How hard would it be to actually board a cruise ship that’s going 23 knots? Don’t these ships pretty much have to stop for the pirates to board them? I thought their modus operandi was to motor up next to a ship and threaten it with RPGs and machine gun fire if it didn’t stop so they could board. > > Maybe it was more a game of chicken - the Captain might have gambled that there was no way in hell the pirates would going to fire on a cruise ship, so by just ignoring them and pouring on the coals he simply gave them more hassle than they wanted to deal with. The pirates did fire on the ship. Pirates are often on board before the crew are aware, so it’s certain not the case that the ship has to stop. 23 knots is certainly faster than your average bulk carrier, but I’ve never heard of speed being sufficient of itself to stop a boarding. I’m not saying it’s easy, but if I was younger and fitter and had no morals, I’d try it for enough money to set me up for life. ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfyre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfyre/32/9972_2.png) [@Shadowfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/17 "2008-12-03T15:07:32Z")
There were also reports that a “long-range acoustic device” [[cite](http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sns-ap-piracy,0,1232371.story)] was used to “distract” the pirates. Pirates might not be as motivated if their ears are bleeding. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/18 "2008-12-03T16:24:54Z")
There had to be a conversation similar to: “I need more speed Scotty!” “I’m giving her all she’s got captain, any more and she’s gonna blow!” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/19 "2008-12-03T16:48:59Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > .. I’m sure the pirates don’t have **cigar** boats or anything… Well, that’s their problem right there. _Cigarette_ boats would be much faster! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379/20 "2008-12-03T18:32:22Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Well, that’s their problem right there. _Cigarette_ boats would be much faster! 😉 But you could get larger caliber weapons on a cigar boat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cruise-ship-m-s-nautica-out-ran-pirate-speedboats-how-fast-can-it-go/475379.md?page=2)