We’re receiving reports that two small skiffs pursued Oceania Cruises’ Nautica and one fired eight rifle shots during the vessel’s transit of the Gulf of Aden this morning. The ship took evasive action and no one aboard was harmed, with no damage sustained, according to the company.

Oceania President Bob Binder says that eight shots were fired but none hit the ship. The closest the pirates ever got to the vessel was 300 meters.

At the time of the attack Nautica was sailing within the Maritime Safety Protection Area which is patrolled by international anti-piracy task forces. The Maritime Safety Protection Area is eight miles wide and 550 miles long.  As the vessel passed several groups of fishing vessels, two small skiffs were sighted by the officer on duty and deemed potentially hostile.

The skiffs, approached from approximately 1,000 meters and attempted to intercept the vessel. Nautica began evasive maneuvers coming to flank speed and outrunning the skiffs.

According to reports the incident began at 0528 GMT and all written reports to the requisite authorities were filed by 0543 GMT.  .

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