No, ‘wealthy Russians’ are not going on pirate-hunting expeditions off the coast of Somalia

Context

On July 25, 2024, a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared a post stating, “Wealthy Russian people are hiring luxury yachts, which are heavily armed, to sail near Somalia on pirate hunting expeditions” (see an archived version of the post here). It added, “Their goal is to hopefully attract pirates to approach them so that they can open fire with grenade launchers and automatic weapons.” The post quickly became viral, garnering over 3.5 million views in less than eight hours. 

The tweet also included a video, initially shared by a TikTok account primarily focused on conspiracy-related content (see an archived version of the TikTok here). The video, which has gained around 90,000 views, states that “In these cruises, instead of being victims of the pirates, people pay around $5700 per day to sail near Somalia on heavily armed private yachts.” The narrator goes on to describe how the armed passengers on these yachts can use weapons like grenade launchers, machine guns, and rocket launchers to attack the pirates. Furthermore, for an extra $20 a day, passengers can rent an AK47 with a hundred rounds of ammunition. Allegedly, the safety of pirate hunters is ensured by former special force soldiers. 

The visuals used in the video feature clips of the 2012 Costa Concordia disaster, Royal Navy Type 31 warships, missile launchers, and clips from a movie trailer of the MV Maersk Alabama hijacking. However, the account that shared the viral post on X also noted in a reply that “The boats in the video are not the actual boats available to hire. They are mostly military naval vessels. The companies offering these trips do not advertise openly.”

In fact

Claims about pirate hunting cruises date back to 2009, as the alleged opportunity was shared on forums (see archived versions here and here) and satirical websites (see archived version here). The posts included a detailed description of the experience, containing dates, pricing, location, and fake reviews. Some publications picked up the claim and presented it as factual (see example here) before Snopes debunked it. Over the years, for instance, in 2018, claims about pirate tourism were also made concerning Dubai tour companies (see here). Now, the topic has resurfaced again. 

Pirates operating off the coast of Somalia engage in hijacking ships, transporting illegal goods, and holding crew members hostage for ransom. They capture vessels in international waters and bring them back into territorial waters to avoid being apprehended. According to the Somali Guardian, these pirates primarily disrupt maritime trade routes in the Gulf of Aden, a natural passage between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. In the first quarter of 2024, there were five reported incidents of piracy in Somalian waters. In contrast, during the peak of piracy in 2011, there were 237 reported attacks. 

Legally, ships encountering pirates can use several non-lethal defense strategies to protect themselves, such as evasive maneuvers, water cannons, rubber bullets, and non-lethal explosives. They can also hire private security to protect their vessel if the activity is aligned with International Maritime and Transport Law. Direct engagement or use of lethal force is restricted. 

As piracy is a crime under international law, only authorized military and law enforcement agencies have the legal authority to address piracy and armed robbery at sea. Typically, naval forces from nations operating in the region are responsible for protecting sailors. Unauthorized individuals or groups intervening in the process can complicate diplomatic relations and legal proceedings. Addressing piracy is illegal if it includes malicious mischief or the use of force beyond what is necessary for self-defense. Thus, cruises for pirate hunting, with the aim of murder, are legally prohibited. 

The verdict

The notion of pirate hunting cruises is a debunked myth that has resurfaced multiple times. The claims lack credibility, and the actions described are illegal under international law. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.