Yemen: Concern as ship heads past coast towards Suez Canal
Passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship have threatened a mutiny because the vessel is heading for waters that are claimed to be terrorist-infested.
According to a report in the Daily Express, the P&O liner Aurora left Bombay yesterday en route to the Red Sea – but its route takes it just a few miles from the coast of Yemen. Many have pointed to the lawless country as a possible al-Qa’ida stronghold, and there have been at least two recent terror attacks on ships in the area.
One passenger told the newspaper: “Everyone is concerned. I think P&O is irresponsible to go towards the Suez Canal. The company has cancelled a stop at Dubai but we are still going to be close to Yemen as we pass into the Red Sea. I’ve spoken to other people and no one wants to go anywhere near the place. There are 2,500 people on board, including the crew – I think we’ll be sitting ducks.”
A spokesman for the cruise company confirmed that it is taking advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and passing all information to passengers, adding: “We have been given full assurances that the Suez Canal will be safe to travel through. The safety of the passengers, crew and ship is of utmost importance to us and nothing will be done to jeopardise that.”
