QM2 passengers tell of pirate pursuit

CRUISE ship megastar, the Queen Mary 2 (QM2), was reportedly targeted by pirates off the coast of Bitung, Indonesia before reaching Darwin on Tuesday, according to several passengers.

The largest ship to visit Australia, The Queen Mary 2, has docked in Darwin today. Passengers Sheila and Henry Milner outside the Queen Mary 2.

CRUISE ship megastar the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) was ­reportedly targeted by pirates off the coast of Bitung, Indonesia, before reaching Darwin on Tuesday, according to several passengers.

The largest ship to ever visit Australia safely docked in ­Darwin with 2600 passengers on board on Tuesday morning. .

Perth couple Henry and Sheila Milner said the ship was targeted by pirates off the Coast of Bitung, Indonesia, the ship’s last port before Darwin.

“The captain kept trying to play it down and say, ‘oh look, we have some more fishermen in boats following us’, but they were riding our waves and ­trying to get close and it was just obvious looking at them that they were pirates,” Mr Milner, 62, said.

Ms Milner, 60, said the ­passengers were “well looked after” by staff during the ­alleged incident.

“Then we got on land (in ­Bitung) and had a convoy of nine coaches escorting us everywhere to keep us safe,” she said. But late last night Cunard released a statement saying the ship had not been t targeted by pirates.

“On arrival at Bitung for her maiden call, some local fishing skiffs greeted QM2,” the statement read.

““We can offer a complete assurance that QM2 was at no stage targeted by pirates.”

Cunard’s 151,400-tonne QM2 – which was built at a cost of US$800 million – is almost twice as large as the original Queen Mary and more than double the size of the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2. Ms Milner said it was the couple’s first time on board the QM2.

“It was my birthday present for January and to celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary,” Ms Milner said.

“The ship is just so beautiful and classy.

“It’s been a great holiday.”

The couple said the wet weather didn’t affect their time in Darwin yesterday.

“We came here on a trip 12 months ago so this time we went to the shopping mall and had a look around but we didn’t buy anything.”

Mr Milner said he was looking forward to returning to the Territory to spend a couple of weeks in Kakadu.

“That’s something you need more time for,” he said.

The QM2 departed Darwin destined for Cairns yesterday evening.

FIT FOR A QUEEN

Length: 345m

Size: 151,400 tonnes (GRT)

Height: 62m above the water

Width: 41m (45m including bridge wings)

Capacity: 2620 guests plus 1253 crew

Draft: 10m

Maximum speed: 30 knots or 55km/h