Cruising For Trouble
Cruise Ships as Soft Targets
By Commander Mark Gaouette
Cruising For Trouble
Cruise Ships as Soft Targets for Pirates,
Terrorists and Common Criminals
By Commander Mark Gaouette
2010 - Printed in the United States of America
Hardcover - 285 pages
ISBN: 978-0-313-38234-5
Praeger Publishing
ABC-CLIO LLC
Foreword by International Cruise Victims
President Kendall Carver
People come from around the world to visit Cruise Bruise. Among those who have never cruised, the question most frequently asked is, "Which cruise line or ship is the safest?". The second most asked question is, "Is cruising really safe?". Cruising For Trouble by Commander Mark Gaouette answers the later question in great detail.
Commander Mark Gaouette isn't just another crazy drunk living in the desert, looking to make money off the cruise industry by putting words into print. But, then Commander Gaouette isn't a drunk, doesn't live in the desert and isn't telling people how safe the cruise industry is so he can make an easy buck, because he knows better, first hand.
Who is Mark Gaouette? Commander Mark Gaouette (USNR-Ret.) is a maritime security consultant to the Department of Homeland Security. As the former Director of Security for Princess Cruises and Cunard Cruise Lines, he oversaw the implementation of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Codes and the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulations on Princess cruise ships and port of calls worldwide.
Mark is a former Special Agent of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS) and served as a Regional Security Officer (RSO) at U.S. embassies including Moscow, Beirut, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Yemen. As a reserve naval intelligence officer, he served with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) during Operation Enduring Freedom as a Force Protection Officer.
The single most important fact that stood out to me after reading Cruising For Trouble, was that if the cruise industry portrays violence against cruise ships as acts by tiny bands of incompetent pirates, most people would surmise that if they don't sail into pirate alley, they are pretty much safe aboard cruise ships. That assumption would be wrong, as you will learn turning page after page.
Gaouette gives compelling evidence that pirate attacks against cruise ships may actually be the work of Russian trained terrorists. If the cruise industry was to tell the public that terrorists attacked the Seabourn Spirit or the MSC Melody, many people would never cruise again because terrorists can, do and will strike anywhere, not just in pirate alley.
The public wrongfully assumes that if there was a real threat of being attacked on a cruise ship, the cruise line would have adequate security measures in place to prevent that unlikely event. Gaouette tells us that nothing could be further from the truth as he contends the industry will not take real action regarding security until AFTER a MAJOR event has already taken place.
If you find that claim hard to swallow, I beg you to consider the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The U.S. knew an attack was imminent yet did nothing to prevent an attack, until AFTER a major attack took place.
There are reflections on past cases of cruise industry incidents and crimes. One particular passage related to missing passenger George Allen Smith IV gave me reason to pause. The passage reads, ". . . No body was ever found, sparking allegations of a cruise line cover-up." (page 120) Is the Commander suggesting that some people believe cruise ship employees threw George's body overboard to cover-up a crime?
Then, there is the topic of myths. Many passengers believe the industry mantra that cruise ship passengers undergo extensive background checks by numerous immigration departments as well as the CIA and FBI before they are allowed to board a cruise ship. (page 140).
If you hadn't already figured out this myth by reading the dozens of cases on Cruise Bruise documenting criminals including felons wanted for violent crimes who had no problem boarding cruise ships, you will soon discover the described loophole in the cruise ship booking and boarding process that rolls out the welcome mat for some of the most dangerous people in the world.
Another misconception I think the public has is that cruise ship officers are trained to handle an attack against their ship. It's hard to imagine how the defense of choice, pepper spray in the hands of Gurkas, could fend off a small craft loaded with explosives speeding towards the cruise ship, when the crew of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67), armed to the teeth, couldn't protect themselves on October 12, 2000. At the time the public really believed terrorists would only choose military targets. Only eleven months later, we would know differently.
Gaouette explains that cruise ships do not carry firearms aboard and are actually sitting ducks for criminal gangs and terrorists around the world. When you realize what the officers aboard a ship can actually do to protect passengers in the event of an attack, based on Gaouette's candid, insider's report on cruise ship security, you will be stunned.
Cruising For Trouble is Gaouette's in depth look at past security incidents and a look at under-reaction to the threat of attacks in the past, present and future. When the government knows of a particular threat targeted at the cruise industry, the event will have likely already taken place before the cruise line is aware of it. That revelation is just stunning and Gaouette supports the contention with valid, supporting evidence. (page 193).
This brings us to the realization, that sitting at our desks after booking a cruise, our government may already know the ship we booked aboard may be the scene of a pending terrorist attack, but didn't tell the cruise line, the ship nor the public. This is something to consider before setting to sea.
Without reading Cruising For Trouble, it's simply impossible to imagine how many threats the cruise industry actually, knowingly faces, every day of every year. Once you read this book, you may give a second thought to that second cruise.
If you don't turn another page this year, you'll want to open the cover of this book and take a look inside at the heart and soul of the people of Alaska. Because, while the tale is fictional, it couldn't possibly be more real.
You’ll get realistic rules to keep you safe in a cruise ship environment, sensible talk about health and sanitation issues, and practical advice to guide you from the purchase of you ticket until the end of your voyage. More
Gaouette gives compelling evidence that pirate attacks against cruise ships may actually be the work of Russian trained terrorists. If the cruise industry was to tell the public that terrorists attacked the Seabourn Spirit or the MSC Melody... More
