Venezuelan warship shoots, rams into passenger cruise vessel before sinking

A Venezuelan naval warship named Naiguata used for offshore patrolling was sent to intercept a German-owned vessel, it fired warning shots, rammed several times into passenger cruise, and accidentally sank itself in Caribbean Sea with no injuries recorded. Venezuelan President, Nicolás Muro, an Iranian ally, h reportedly accused RCGS Resolute cruise ship of “terrorism and piracy" and h sought to steer vessel’s direction in sea. cruise ship was sailing under a Portuguese flag, with no passengers, and was detected with a “reinforced hull” that withstood it through iceberg infested water, according to statement released. 

incident occurred at 13 nautical miles on coast of Isla de Tortuga, a Venezuelan island. warship Naiguata reportedly issued warnings to Resolute of violation of Venezuelan territorial waters and commanded it to follow war vessel to Venezuela port of Puerto Moreno. cruise liner halted on pretext of consultation with home office, in no time, naval vessel started firing at cruise ship and rammed it several times not realizing ship’s hull wasn’t ordinary. Because hull of cruise was stronger than average, GC-23 Naiguata wrecked after collision and perished in sea. 

Re: Coronavirus: WHO Team To Visit Rajasthan's Tonk District

Re: Coronavirus Claims 53,218 Lives Worldwide, Total Cases Cross 1 Million

Ship's actions “cowardly and criminal”

Columbia Cruise Services, operators of  Resolute, described ship’s hull as “high-density steel plating” efficient to sail in “ice-len large waters” on official website. y asserted in a statement that armed Venezuelan Navy attacked ship when it was in process of confirmation with operators about deviation of planned voyage. naval officers in warship resorted to shooting at cruise’s starboard side and ramming it repeatedly. However, ship sustained severe damage due to its seaworthiness, statement re. An operator at Resolute said in press briefing that after contacting maritime rescue authorities in Curacao, ship waited on scene for one hour, and got underway for Willemst when MRCC Curacao released it. 

government of Venezuela, however, accused ship of departing scene without orders and regretted loss of its patrol vessel. Venezuelan President Nicolas Muro said in a statement that Resolute’s actions were “cowardly and criminal”. He said that cruise did not attend to naval crew, which is a breach of international regulations of rescue of life at sea protocols. "We ask for greater collaboration of maritime, civil, police and military authorities of Curaçao and we will maintain coordination," said Muro in  statement.

Re: China To Observe April 4 As Mourning Day For Coronavirus Victims

Re: One More Tests Positive For Coronavirus In Goa; Tally Now 6