Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Pirates ‘open fire’ on visitors at remote New Caledonian island

Pirates ‘open fire’ on visitors at remote New Caledonian island
July 2, 2019

A gang of pirates armed with rifles and swords or machetes has attacked a luxury yacht carrying tourists off New Caledonia, knocking the captain to the deck and looting the boat, according to reports.

Two Australian tourists and three guides were aboard a yacht exploring a coral atoll near Ouvéa, a remote isle favoured by cruise ships, when raiders approached their boat and opened fire.

As quoted by the Daily Mail, New Caledonia Public Prosecutor Alexis Bouroz advised “a boat from Ouvéa came to meet them with seven to eight people aboard, some of them apparently armed with guns and machetes.”

Bouroz explained that the attackers fired shots in the air and at the boat before five or six pirates boarded.

Tourists were only “lightly injured” but the skipper was hit in the face and knocked to the deck.

After that, the boat was reported to have been looted while one of its engines and its electronic equipment was destroyed.

While the attack has not made the news in much of the English-speaking world, reports have been carried by numerous French-language outlets, including Paris morning newspaper Le Figaro, the longest-established national daily in France.

Tahiti-infos.com reported that the pirates were brandishing “des fusils et de sabres“ (firearms and sabres, the latter possibly machetes).

The prosecutor said that the incident occurred Monday afternoon near Beautemps Beaupré Island, a coral atoll north west of Ouvéa.

Tahiti-infos.com advised “two Australian tourists and three companions came to observe the underwater world with a boat from a luxury yacht, the Masteka 2, which anchored further offshore.”

A boat from Ouvéa carrying pirates then intercepted the vessel.

The site quoted an officer on the boat, Vincent Ventrella. In a statement to French-language news agency Agence France-Presse, Ventrella said the attackers had apparently commandeered a local tourist excursion boat to launch the raid.

Ventrella advised that the planned tourist visit to the coral atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed tribal reserve, had been organised after a formal request to the traditional Kanak custodians.

Channel News Asia quoted New Caledonia’s tourism department condemning the violence, saying the attack targeted small-scale but high-yield tourism, the very type of tourism it was trying to encourage.

News outlets quoted a spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) acknowledging it was “aware of media reports that a number of Australians were involved in an incident in New Caledonia” adding: “We stand ready to offer consular assistance.”

New Caledonian authorities have reportedly identified the main suspect and issued an arrest warrant for aggravated violence, theft with violence and intimidatory behaviour endangering the public.

In a statement, the President of New Caledonia’s southern province, Sonia Backés, strongly condemned the aggression, which she said was “highly detrimental to tourism activities.”

Image shows the island of Ouvéa.

Related Articles

7th March 2019 - Concerns over oil spill impact on Solomon Islands’ World Heritage sites

30th August 2017 - SPTO delivers tourism business training in New Caledonia

18th April 2017 - World Heritage sites threatened by crime

31st July 2015 - Pacific tourism sees increase in visitor arrivals

24th April 2015 - Fire damaged Splash Planet Pirate Ship to be replaced

31st July 2014 - New Caledonia creates world’s largest nature reserve

10th September 2013 - Newmarket Pool awaits a pirate invasion

4th September 2013 - Tourism must pay its dues to the environment


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

GymMaster

Contact: Australia: (+61) 1800 849 001 New Zealand: (+64) 3 668 5727 International: (+1) 415 915 0375

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 

GEOFF NINNES FONG AND PARTNERS

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) is a structural, aquatic and civil engineering consultancy with broad experience in the design of new municipal and institutional swimming pools, hydrotherapy…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Design / Venues

 
 

Humanforce

Humanforce is a global provider of workforce management solutions for companies who need flexibility to manage complex workforces. Companies use Humanforce to manage everything from time and…

read more

Hospitality / Retail / Technology / Venues

 
 

Quayclean

Quayclean are a national cleaning and waste services partner with proven results in the understanding and delivery of cleaning needs and challenges faced by facilities including; major venues and…

read more

Aquatics / Hospitality / Surfaces / Venues

 
 

24/7 Software

The world's greatest properties run on 24/7 Software Whether at commercial properties, corporate facilities, sports arenas, or public entertainment venues, we're proud to lead the way in…

read more

Entertainment / Security / Sport / Technology / Venues

 
 

Riedel Communications Australia Pty Ltd

We live for media production and global events, providing real-time networks for video, audio, data and communications.

read more

Entertainment / Events / Technology / Venues

 
 

SENtag

Developed in Europe, this innovative system offers a safety management solution for swimming pools that checks individual swimmers via their wristband - monitoring their depth and time. Sensors…

read more

Aquatics / Hospitality / Safety / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

AUSTRALIAN WATERSLIDES AND LEISURE

A leading designer and manufacturer of innovative waterslides and attractions, Australian Waterslides and Leisure (AWL) is also able to advise clients in the areas of concept and design, feasibility…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Waterparks

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business