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A Venezuelan Warship Lost a Fight to a German Luxury Cruise Ship

During the early morning hours of March 30, 2020, the German cruise liner RCGS Resolute came under attack from a Venezuelan Navy warship.

It should have been an easy win but, like so many things in Venezuela's recent history, things did not go as planned.

The German ship, owned by One Ocean Expeditions, was in international waters and flying a Portuguese flag. It was adrift as it performed maintenance on one of its engines when it was intercepted by the Venezuelan patrol ship ANBV Naiguatá.

This encounter came just days after the Trump administration declared Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to be a wanted drug trafficker and One Ocean Expeditions filed for insolvency.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Sea is full of U.S. Navy ships.

Knowing all this, Venezuelan Capt. Granadillo Medina, in command of Naiguatá, saw a ship that appeared to be inoperable, from a company that is essentially bankrupt, floating on the edge of Venezuelan waters -- all while a hostile Navy might be waiting for the right moment to pounce.

From that perspective, one might suspect the Resolute was doing more than just maintaining an engine. Whether they were or not is unclear.

Medina radioed a warning to the Germans, demanding to board the cruise ship for inspection.

The Germans had no passengers and were set to rendezvous with a sister ship in Curaçao. They were already worried about being late and declined to be boarded.

The Venezuelans next ordered the Resolute to sail under escort to the nearby port of Puerto Moreno on Isla De Margarita.

When the Germans again failed to comply, the patrol ship attacked. Naiguatá fired warning shots across the cruise liner's bow. What comes next is disputed by everyone involved.

The Germans allege that the Naiguatá went straight at the Resolute, hitting the cruise ship's bow at a 135-degree angle. The ramming was supposedly the Naiguatá's effort to point the ship toward the island and force her into Venezuelan waters.

The tactic did not have the effect the warship wanted.

The Resolute suffered very little damage, its seaworthiness unaffected. And instead of forcing the cruise ship to go anywhere, it was the warship that suffered massive damage. She quickly began to take on water.

What those on the Naiguatá didn't seem to know is that the Resolute is a purpose-built polar expedition vessel, designed to operate in the most dangerous sea ice conditions. Her hull was reinforced for that purpose. A patrol boat like Naiguatá would never have been able to damage such a hull.

The warning shots are not in dispute, but who rammed who is. The Venezuelans say that after the Naiguatá fired the shots, it tried to cross the Resolute's path and cut the cruise ship off. They also claim the Resolute fired up its engine and intentionally rammed the Naiguatá using its reinforced hull.

Repeatedly.

Venezuela released a recording of the encounter, which can be seen 40 seconds into the video below.

As the Naiguatá began to take on water, the Resolute departed for Curaçao, allegedly leaving 44 Venezuelan sailors to go down with their ship, a violation of international maritime law.

Luckily, they were rescued by another Venezuelan vessel.

The owners of the Resolute deny the ship left the sailors to die. The Resolute's crew says they contacted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Curaçao and asked whether the Venezuelans needed help. The Germans claim they were told they did not.

The only clear fact is that, after the incident, the Naiguatá went to the bottom of the Caribbean Sea and no one was killed. But Maduro maintains the Resolute was planning acts of "terrorism and piracy" off of Venezuela's territorial waters.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at [email protected] , on Twitter @blakestilwell , or on Facebook .

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Naval Patrol Boat Takes on Cruise Ship. Loses Real Bad.

Turns out you shouldn't ram a cruise ship built to withstand sea ice.

• The cruise ship, built to operate in iceberg-infested waters, suffered only minor damage and sailed to safety while the Venezuelan cruiser sank itself.
• No one was reported injured in the scrape.

The Venezuelan Navy offshore patrol vessel Naiguata, sent to intercept a lowly cruise ship, accidentally owned itself on Monday. After ramming the cruise ship RCGS Resolute 's steel-reinforced hull, the patrol boat sank. (The good news: There were no injuries.)

The Resolute suffered only minor damage because it was reinforced to withstand iceberg-infested waters .

According to Maritime Executive , the incident took place 13 nautical miles off the coast of Isla de Tortuga, an uninhabited Venezuelan island. The Naiguata ordered the Resolute to follow it to Venezuela and port, on the pretext of “violation of Venezuelan territorial waters.”

While the cruise ship crew was consulting with the home office, the navy vessel fired several warning shots and began ramming the cruise ship.

What the crew of the Naiguata apparently did not realize was that the Resolute ’s hull is stronger than average because of its iceberg-resistant hull. The ship’s website describes the hull as having “high density steel plating” to allow it to sail in “ice laden large waters.”

Columbia Cruise Services, operators of the Resolute , tell the ship’s side of the story :

While the Master was in contact with the head office, gun shots were fired and, shortly thereafter, the navy vessel approached the starboard side at speed with an angle of 135° and purposely collided with the RCGS RESOLUTE. The navy vessel continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship’s head towards Venezuelan territorial waters.

While the RCGS RESOLUTE sustained minor damages, not affecting vessel’s seaworthiness, it occurs that the navy vessel suffered severe damages while making contact with the ice-strengthened bulbous bow of the ice-class expedition cruise vessel RCGS RESOLUTE and started to take water.

The Naiguata ended up sinking. According to Columbia Cruise Services, Resolute stayed in the vicinity until the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Curaçao, the authority responsible for local incidents at sea, told it to continue on its voyage. Resolute also claims that offers to lend aid to the stricken ship were “left unanswered.”

The Venezuelan military disputed that , stating “the action of the ship Resolute is considered cowardly and criminal, since it did not attend to the rescue of the crew, in breach of the international regulations that regulate the rescue of life at sea.”

A statement attributed to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro alleged that the cruise ship was actually to blame in an "act of aggression and piracy."

After being released by the MRCC, the Resolute sailed on to safety, docking at the island of Curaçao .

The website FleetMon has a photo of damage to the Resolute ’s hull, which appears minor, as well as a file photo of the Naiguata . The Resolute , built in 1993, is 400 feet long and 59 feet wide. It displaces 8,378 tons and normally carries up to 146 passengers.

Spain's Navantia shipyards built the Naiguata in 2009 as a coastal patrol ship. The Naiguata was 259 feet long, had a top speed of 22 knots, and displaced 1,453 tons. This ship was also armed with a 76-millimeter Oto-Melara rapid fire deck gun, a 35-millimeter Oerlikon Millennium close-in weapon system, and two .50-caliber machine guns. As a surface ship, Naiguata typically embarks with a crew of 34.

It’s not clear what happened here, but one thing is clear: Venezuela’s story doesn’t add up. For one, Resolute was 13 nautical miles off the coast of Isla de Tortuga, and territorial waters extend up to 12 miles.

Plus, an unarmed cruise ship that takes no aggressive action can't be an aggressor and commit “piracy” against an armed navy patrol boat. Finally, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre is a non-partisan agency that would have records of it giving Resolute permission to leave the scene.

Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News , and others. He lives in San Francisco.

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Venezuela Navy Patrol Ship ANBV NAIGUATA (GCG-23) sank after a collision with cruise ship RCGS RESOLUTE (a passenger ship registered in Portugal) early in the morning Mar 30 at the northwest of La Tortuga island, Venezuela, Caribbean. According to the Venezuelan sources, Resolute continued to her way after the collision, without conducting Search and Rescue operation. This is a surprising issue because the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (Chapter-V, Regulation-33) orders ship captain which is in a position to be able to provide assistance, on receiving a signal from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance.

Another claim about the accident is about the behaviors of the Venezuelan OPV before the collision. The cruise ship with 35 maintenance crew on board (no passengers) was positioned outside Venezuelan territorial waters, when she was approached by NAIGUATA and ordered to sail to Puerto Moreno on Isla De Margarita (Venezuelan Island), according to the statement of the RESOLUTE’s owner. “The Venezuelan OPV continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship’s head towards Venezuelan territorial waters,” RESOLUTE’s owner added. The company of the Resolute strongly refused the claims about fleeing, “RESOLUTE remained for over one hour in the vicinity of the scene and reached out to MRCC Curacao, and sailed away only after receiving the order to resume passage full ahead by the MRCC and that further assistance is not required” they concluded.

What is the true story?

After having lots of questions about the accident we consulted our sources from the field. As far as we have learned ;

– Before the accident, Resolute’s last port of call was Buenos Aires of Argentina and heading to Curacao island.

– Venezuelan OPV NAIGUATA detected Resolute at 13.3 nautical miles (nm) with speed 2.2 knots at the southwest of Tortuga island which has 12 nm of territorial waters. The waypoints of Resolute is shown below.

– Venezuela had promulgated a contiguous zone that extends 12 nm from territorial waters in accordance with 1982 convention. (The contiguous zone is an area of sea contiguous to and extending seaward of the territorial sea, in which the coastal State may exercise the control necessary to prevent and punish infringements of its customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws within its territory or territorial sea) Position of Resolute is indicated with the black dot.

– After detecting, NAIGUATA called Resolute via VHF and ordered to stop the engines. According to the sources captain of Resolute was cooperative and answering all the questions during the hailing. In the video below, you can listen to the VHF radio records during the hailing.

– NAIGUATA ordered Resolute to stop the engines.  At the end of the radio record above it’s clear that captain of Resolute stated that the ship has an engine problem (it can be understood that 2.2 kts is very slow for a cruise ship) but NAIGUATA ordered to stop again.

– After this communication aggression starts, NAIGUATA opened fire to Resolute to show its determination and rammed the cruise ship to direct her to Margarita Island, east of Tortuga. After seeing that Resolute maintain her course (Because the captain declared that they have restricted manoeuvre ability due to engine defect), OPV NAIGUATA rammed the cruise ship in order to force her to alter course to Venezuelan island. Commanding Officer’s poor decision is hidden at ramming point to Resolute because he rammed the passenger ship’s ice-strengthened bulbous bow, this looks like a big mistake. That’s why Cruise ship got minor damages and kept seaworthiness while NAIGUATA sank.

Why did Venezuelan OPV NAIGUATA show such an aggressive attitude?

As we examine the location of the incident, it’s a high-risk area due to piracy activities. A few months ago a Commanding officer of a Colombian naval asset was assassinated by thugs. Because of this reason, the warships patrolling in this area are always on the alert mode to prevent piracy activities. Comparing with other merchant ships suffered from piracy, this incident obviously doesn’t have any clue to be suspicious that the ship is captured by sea ​​thugs. If it would be so, the captain would demand help from the warship, and under the effect of thugs ship wouldn’t be able to show cooperative behaviors.

Resolute’s last port of call was Buenos Aires of Argentina, which is an ally of the Maduro regime. As we stated above, the regime has the right to intervene in the ships in crime such as smuggling in its territorial waters. But this incident happened at contiguous waters which regime has the right to inspect minor issues like health, customs etc. If the commanding officer took a specific order to increase tension and intervene the ship in accordance with a warning from the ally or some other source. According to analyzes at Forbes made by naval defense analyst H.I. Sutton, Venezuelan navy showed some RHIB photos to proof that Resolute was carrying military equipment, yet, these inflatable boats are normal for this cruise ship.

As we see, there are many intertwined cases like a Matryoshka doll. These issues could cause Venezuelan officials to be paranoid and take extreme measures, and this collision incident could be the result of these political arm-wrestling. As far as we learned, ANBV NAIGUATA wasn’t operational-ready, 16 sailors were not qualified, two of the main weapons were out of order. Ship’s training was evaluated as below-standard.

To conclude, it seems like Inadequacy of the Commanding Officer and his crew and outlaw orders of the regime caused this disaster.

"Naval Post" is an online defense media company, focused on Warships, Submarines, Naval Air and Naval Missiles.

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• Venezuelan Coast Guard boat sinks after collision with cruise...

Venezuelan Coast Guard boat sinks after collision with cruise ship RCGS Resolute

A Venezuelan CG (Coast Guard) patrol boat capsized and sank after a collision with the Portuguese- flagged cruise ship RCGS Resolute . The collision occurred in international waters in the early morning of Monday, March 30. The cruise vessel owned by the Canada-based company One Ocean Expeditions. The accident happened approx 15 mi (25 km) off Tortuga Island.

Before the collision, the Venezuelan patrol boat crew radioed the ship's crew warning them they were in Venezuelan territorial waters and that they were to proceed to Puerto Moreno on Margarita Island  for processing.

In a statement released on Wednesday, April 1, Columbia Cruise Services Ltd (ship's managing company) said the Venezuelan crew fired warning shots into the air as their boat approached the vessel’s starboard side at a high speed. According to the company's statement, the patrol boat repeatedly rammed the bow of RCGS Resolute in an attempt to turn the vessel towards Venezuelan territorial waters.

Both vessels suffered hull damages, but the seaworthiness of the cruise ship was not affected. Meanwhile, the patrol boat started taking on water, keeled over and sank. All the 44 Venezuelan crew were rescued.

Venezuela's Government maintains it was the cruise ship crew who was to blame for the accident, saying that it had rammed into the boat and not the other way around. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said the collision was an “act of terrorism and piracy” committed by the Portuguese ship’s crew. The two countries have opened diplomatic channels to ease tensions and clear up conflicting reports in connection with the accident.

Columbia Cruise Services reported that RCGS Resolute is currently berthed in Port Willemstad (Curacao) for an investigation.

For other RCGS Resolute accidents and incidents see at the ship's CruiseMinus page.

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Naval boat sinks after ramming passenger cruise in Venezuela

CNN Digital

An undated file photo of the RCGS Resolute. (CNN)

A Venezuelan naval boat picked and lost a fight with a passenger cruise liner off the country's northern coast this week, ramming it several times before accidentally taking on water and sinking.

The proprietors of the German-owned RCGS Resolute cruise ship said its vessel had been receiving maintenance in international waters on Tuesday morning when the armed navy boat approached it and ordered it to change direction.

The encounter escalated when, according to the company, "gun shots were fired and, shortly thereafter, the navy vessel approached the starboard side at speed with an angle of 135 degrees and purposely collided with the RCGS Resolute."

"The navy vessel continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship's head towards Venezuelan territorial waters," Columbia Cruise Services' statement read.

However, the RCGS Resolute is reinforced with steel plating to help it navigate through ice.

"While the RCGS Resolute sustained minor damages, not affecting vessel's seaworthiness, it occurs that the navy vessel suffered severe damages while making contact with the ice-strengthened bulbous bow of the ice-class expedition cruise vessel RCGS Resolute and started to take water," the company's statement said.

A total of 32 crew members were aboard the liner, but no passengers were.

Venezuela's navy has acknowledged the incident, though it differs in its version of events.

According to Venezuela, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Venezuelan waters, next to Isla La Tortuga. Columbia CS says it took place in International waters, near Willemsted, Curacao.

The country's defense ministry suggested the Resolute may have been carrying mercenaries ready to attack Venezuela. The nation's embattled President, Nicolas Maduro, has often accused the US government and its allies of attempting to overthrow him since much of the international community backed Juan Guaido's challenge to his presidency.

A search and rescue mission successfully retrieved the crew from the sinking patrol boat, the Venezuelan navy said in a statement.

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Venezuelan navy gunship rams Caribbean cruise ship Resolute, sinks

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The RCGS Resolute came out the better of Wednesday morning's encounter. Photo / Supplied Columbia CS

A Venezuelan navy gunboat has picked a fight with a cruise ship, and lost.

RCGS Resolute was undergoing maintenance in international waters in the south Caribbean when the incident took place, on Wednesday morning. The ship was carrying only 32 crew and no passengers at the time.

According to a statement by owners Columbia CS, shortly after midnight, the ship was "approached by an armed Venezuelan navy vessel" which challenged the Resolute and ordered it to sail into the Venezuelan port on Isla De Margarita.

The cruise ship refused, maintaining it was in international waters.

While the ships Master was trying to contact the German company's head office, warning shots were overheard and the gunboat set course to ram the cruise ship.

"The navy vessel continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship's head towards Venezuelan territorial waters," read the Resolute's account .

However this was a big mistake for the over-zealous Venezuelans.

"While the RCGS Resolute sustained minor damages, not affecting vessel's seaworthiness, it occurs that the navy vessel suffered severe damages while making contact with the ice-strengthened bulbous bow of the ice-class expedition cruise vessel RCGS Resolute and started to take water," said Columbia CS.

In a statement the Venezuelan coastguard acknowledged the incident and the outcome, blaming the Portuguese flagged vessel for causing "damage of great magnitude" and "anxiety of the aforementioned coastguard".

The navy deemed the Resolute's action "cowardly and criminal" for not offering rescue to the scuppered sailors, as was their duty by maritime law.

Columbia denied this accusation, saying the ship remained in the water for "over an hour" radioing help from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on the nearby Caribbean island of Curaçao. Attempts to correspond with the sinking navy vessel, Resolute claims, were refused.

The Resolute moored safely in the port of Willemstad, sustaining only minor damages.

All Venezuelan sailors were rescue by navy support vessels. The Venezuelan state says it will be taking legal action against the cruise liner.

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Cruise Ship Sinks Navy Vessel Following Run-In

Richard Simms

• April 3, 2020

A cruise ship was apparently fired upon and rammed by a navy vessel in the waters off the coast of a Venezuelan island. By the time the incident was over, the navy ship had sunk, while the cruise ship emerged from the encounter virtually unscathed.

What Led To The Encounter

The entire story reads like the high-seas version of a man-bites-dog story. After all, one would expect any encounter between a cruise ship and a military-style vessel to end with the latter declaring a victory. But that was definitely not the case when the Naiguata , a Venezuelan navy ship, had a confrontation with the five-star expedition German cruise ship the Resolute .

Details are a bit unclear, but as detailed by Popular Mechanics , the Naiguata ordered the cruise ship to follow it to Venezuela because it had strayed into territorial waters. While the cruise ship crew was attempting to communicate with their home office to get further instructions, the other vessel fired several warning shots.

Soon after, the Resolute was being rammed by the navy ship, apparently in an effort to not-so-gently push it in the direction they wished it to go. What the Naiguata failed to realize was that it was ramming into a hull specifically designed to withstand the pressures of arctic ice floes.

A report from Maritime Executive indicated that while the cruise ship sustained “minor damages” which did not impact the Resolute ‘s seaworthiness, the other ship was not so lucky. In fact, it was badly damaged and began to take on water and eventually sank.

Two Conflicting Stories

While Columbia Cruise Services, the company which owns the Resolute , insists that their ship only left the scene of the incident after the authorities in charge told them to do so, the Venezuelan navy says that’s not the case.

In fact, they have branded the cruise ship’s actions “cowardly and criminal, since it did not attend to the rescue of the crew, in breach of the international regulations that regulate the rescue of life at sea.”

The Resolute, which normally carries 146 passengers, had none on board and no crew members were injured. The 44 members of the Naiguata crew were rescued before the ship sank.

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Venezuelan Navy OPV sinks after collision with passenger ship

2nd April 2020 - 11:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Venezuelan Navy OPV Naiguatá  (GC-23) sank on 30 March after colliding with a Portuguese-registered Colombian passenger ship, RCGS Resolute .

The incident occurred at approximately 00:45, some 13.3nm from Isla de Tortuga.

A statement from Columbia Cruise Services, operator of RCGS Resolute , the vessel was ‘subject to an act of aggression by the Venezuelan Navy in international waters’.

The Naiguatá , a   Guaicamacuto-class patrol boat built in Spain, radioed the passenger liner questioning their intentions and the Venezuelan OPV requested that Resolute follow it to Puerto Moreno. After firing gun shots, Naiguatá   then collided with the passenger ship.

Naiguata began to take on water after sustaining significant damage caused by the ice-strengthened bulbous bow of Resolute . 

Columbia Cruise Services said that their vessel waited nearby for more than an hour before being told that its assistance would not be required by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Curaçao.

The MRCC’s attempts to contact the Venezuelan OPV were unanswered. 

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One person has died and several others were injured after a shuttle bus crashed into pedestrians and concrete barriers at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal. KHNL's Jolanie Martinez reports. April 13, 2024

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20-year-old man missing after jumping off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, report says

• A 20-year-old man on holiday with his family went overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise. 
• The man, who's been missing since early Thursday morning, may have jumped, a report said. 
• The US Coast Guard has launched a search operation. 

A 20-year-old man who was vacationing with his family on a cruise may have jumped overboard, The New York Post reported.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that a passenger, whose identity has not been revealed, went overboard near The Bahamas at about 4 a.m. on Thursday and has been missing since then.

The US Coast Guard launched a search for the passenger on Thursday.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Business Insider that the cruise line's "Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest's family during this difficult time."

Bryan Sims, a fellow cruise passenger, told The New York Post that he'd hung out with the passenger in the hot tub until 3:30 a.m. Sims said the man appeared to be "pretty drunk."

Sims told the Post that after leaving the hot tub, they encountered the passenger's father while approaching the elevators.

"His dad was fussing at him for being drunk," Sims said.

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Deborah Morrison, another passenger on board the cruise, told the Post that "there was a lot of yelling and that the crew was alerted immediately."

"The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard, who has taken over the search," the Royal Caribbean spokesperson said.

#Breaking @USCG crews are searching for a 20-year-old man who went overboard from the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship 57 miles from Great Inagua this morning. USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews are conducting the search. #USCG #SAR pic.twitter.com/zZPpKOdyCn — USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) April 4, 2024

The Liberty of the Seas departed from South Florida and was 57 miles from Great Inagua in The Bahamas when the passenger went overboard.

The cruise ship has 18 decks and can accommodate up to 3,634 passengers. It's served by a crew of about 1,300.

The chances of falling overboard on a cruise ship are extremely low .

In 2023, about 31 million passengers traveled on a cruise, and at least 10 people went overboard, with two of them surviving, Business Insider reported .

"Even one incident is one too many," a spokesperson for Cruise Lines International Association told Business Insider, adding that "the vast majority of cases are either reckless behavior or some form of intentional act. People don't just inadvertently fall over the side of a ship."

Last month, a 23-year-old man who felt seasick fell overboard from the MSC Euribia cruise ship while crossing the North Sea in Europe and was presumed dead.

In December, an MSC Cruises passenger jumped from one of its ships while sailing from Europe to South America.

According to a CLIA report, only 28.2% of passengers who fell overboard between 2009 and 2019 were successfully rescued.

Watch: Sub taking tourists to see the Titanic goes missing

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1 dead after shuttle bus crashes at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal

HONOLULU — One person died and multiple people were injured when a shuttle bus collided with pedestrians and concrete barriers at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal, authorities said Friday.

The crash occurred when the shuttle bus driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake, Honolulu police said in statement.

The driver had dropped off customers at Pier 2 when bystanders noticed the bus was moving forward, police said. The driver jumped in the driver’s seat and attempted to stop the vehicle when he stepped on the gas, police said.

One pedestrian, a 68-year-old woman, died. Paramedics took four others in their 50s and 60s to the hospital in serious condition. They also took a man in his 70s to the hospital in stable condition.

Paramedics evaluated and bandaged six others who declined transportation to the hospital, said Honolulu Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Shayne Enright.

Police said speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash. It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved, police said.

Cruise passenger dies after shuttle bus crash

One woman has died and 10 others were injured after a shuttle bus crashed into the transportation area outside a Honolulu cruise terminal Friday, according to police.

The ship, Carnival Miracle, was on a 15-day journey, departing Long Beach, California, on April 6, according to Carnival Cruise Line. Nine of the people hit by the vehicle were cruise ship passengers.

"Sadly, one guest has died from her injuries. She was traveling with her husband, who was also injured and is expected to recover. Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones," Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement to ABC News.

A 57-year-old man was dropping off customers at pier 2 when a bystander told him that his vehicle was moving forward. He then jumped into the drivers seat, trying to stop the vehicle, but he accidentally pressed the gas pedal instead of the brakes, colliding with two concrete barriers and eleven pedestrians, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

Five pedestrians were transported to the hospital -- one of whom was later pronounced dead and four others are in good condition. Six other pedestrians refused treatment on the scene, police said.

According to police, speed does not appear to be a contributing factor in the collision and it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors.

The investigation is ongoing.

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1 dead after shuttle bus crashes at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal

One person died and multiple people were injured when a shuttle bus collided with pedestrians and concrete barriers at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal

HONOLULU -- One person died and multiple people were injured when a shuttle bus collided with pedestrians and concrete barriers at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal, authorities said Friday.

The crash occurred when the shuttle bus driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake, Honolulu police said in statement.

The driver had dropped off customers at Pier 2 when bystanders noticed the bus was moving forward, police said. The driver jumped in the driver's seat and attempted to stop the vehicle when he stepped on the gas, police said.

One pedestrian, a 68-year-old woman, died. Paramedics took four others in their 50s and 60s to the hospital in serious condition. They also took a man in his 70s to the hospital in stable condition.

Paramedics evaluated and bandaged six others who declined transportation to the hospital, said Honolulu Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Shayne Enright.

Police said speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash. It's unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved, police said.

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1 dead after shuttle bus crashes at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal

• Copy Link copied

HONOLULU (AP) — One person died and multiple people were injured when a shuttle bus collided with pedestrians and concrete barriers at a Honolulu cruise ship terminal, authorities said Friday.

The crash occurred when the shuttle bus driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake, Honolulu police said in statement.

The driver had dropped off customers at Pier 2 when bystanders noticed the bus was moving forward, police said. The driver jumped in the driver’s seat and attempted to stop the vehicle when he stepped on the gas, police said.

One pedestrian, a 68-year-old woman, died. Paramedics took four others in their 50s and 60s to the hospital in serious condition. They also took a man in his 70s to the hospital in stable condition.

Paramedics evaluated and bandaged six others who declined transportation to the hospital, said Honolulu Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Shayne Enright.

Police said speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash. It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved, police said.

Iran launches dozens of drones at Israel, one injured in attack: Recap

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Saturday, April 13. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our story for Sunday, April 14 .

WASHINGTON — For the first time ever, Iran launched an attack Saturday against Israel directly from its territory.

Iran sent a wave of drones toward Israel, a U.S. official told USA TODAY Saturday, as the country ramped up preparations for an Iranian strike amid soaring Mideast tensions. The official was not authorized to speak publicly.

The Iranians had been observed preparing drones to attack Israel, according to a second U.S. official briefed on the intelligence but not authorized to speak publicly. 

The attacks were retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus, Syria last of Apr. 1. that killed seven Revolutionary Guards officers including two senior commanders. The move by Iran marks the most recent escalation in an inflamed Middle East that has been building for half a year − ever since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in Israel detonated a retaliatory war against the militant group in the Gaza Strip.

"Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address. "The State of Israel is strong."

Israel's military said fighter jets and navy vessels are "on a defense mission in Israeli airspace."

The attack is "likely to unfold over a number of hours," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. President Joe Biden is set to meet with his national security team at the White House on Saturday afternoon and is being updated on the situation, Watson said.

"President Biden has been clear: Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran," Watson said in a statement.

After the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, the small Mideast country maintained relations with Iran − an outlier from other Muslim majority countries in the region. After Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, the two nations turned into fierce rivals.

Developments:

∎ Iran said it will not hesitate to take further "defensive measures" to protect its interests against any military aggression, the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday.

∎ Israel's national emergency service reported a 10-year-old boy in the Arad region had been injured. No casualties have been reported as a result of the attack.

∎ Biden returned to the White House to meet with national security advisers about events in the Mideast on Saturday afternoon, cutting short a weekend trip to Delaware, the White House said in a statement.

∎ Iraq and Jordan temporarily closed their airspace as Iran launched drones toward Israel Saturday. Jordan has helped Israel respond to the attack by shooting down dozens of Iranian drones, Reuters reported.

Israeli Ambassador to U.N. calls for emergency meeting of Security Council

Israel’s top diplomat to the U.N. called for the Security Council to meet immediately to condemn Iran’s attacks and to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization.

In a letter released Saturday night , Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan wrote to U.N. Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said Iran’s drone and missile attacks at Israel was a “clear violation” of the U.N. Charter and international law, calling it a “severe and dangerous escalation.”

He pointed to Saturday’s attacks, as well as weapons transfers to Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah, among other Iranian-backed proxies, as evidence of violations that he said threaten international peace. He also cited Revolutionary Guards seizing a Portuguese civilian cargo ship earlier on Saturday.

“The time has come for the Security Council to take concrete action against the Iranian threat,” he said.

The 15-member Security Council includes the U.S. as a permanent member. Neither Israel nor Iran are current members.

IDF: Most Iranian missiles intercepted outside Israel’s borders, IDF base hit with ‘minor damage’

Israel said most missile launches from Iran were intercepted before crossing into Israel. On social media, Israel Defense Forces said its Aerial Defense Array and its “strategic allies” intercepted most launches before they hit Israeli territory. Still, IDF did identify “a small number of hits,” including at an IDF base in southern Israel. The base had minor damage to infrastructure, IDF said.

“Over the past few hours, many dozens of hostile aircraft, as well as dozens of cruise missiles, from Iran were identified approaching Israeli territory and intercepted,” IDF said. “Dozens of (Israeli Air Force) fighter jets are currently operating to intercept all aerial threats approaching Israeli territory.”

What is Israel’s Iron Dome?

The Iron Dome is Israel’s mobile missile defense system that is designed to find and shoot down short-range rockets fired at Israel. An all-weather system, the Iron Dome can also take down artillery and drones, and it can detect and engage rockets up to 40 miles away.

After becoming operational in 2011, it’s been upgraded over the years and has a high success rate. It’s part of Israel’s three-tiered air defense system that protects against short-range ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets and cruise missiles, via David’s Sling, and also through Arrow-3, which provides defense against medium-range ballistic missiles.

Iran won’t hesitate to take more ‘defensive measures’ to protect ‘legitimate interests’

Iran’s foreign ministry said it would not hesitate to take further “defensive measures,” against any military aggression, Reuters reported.

“Iran, if necessary, will not hesitate to take further defensive measures to safeguard its legitimate interests against any military aggressions and unlawful use of force," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, according to state TV.

Iran would do so, the statement reportedly said, while reaffirming its commitment to the principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.

U.N. secretary-general ‘deeply alarmed’ by region-wide escalation

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he strongly condemned Iran’s “large-scale attack” on Israel. In a statement, he called for an immediate stop to the fighting.

“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” he said. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East. I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.”

Trump praises Israel, attacks Biden's leadership during Pennsylvania rally

Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to Israel and blamed President Joe Biden for Iran's attack during a campaign rally Saturday night in Pennsylvania.

"God Bless the people of Israel," Trump said at the start of a rally at a fairground in Schnecksville ,  Pa., near Allentown. 

Trump, who attacked Biden in a series of Truth Social posts earlier in the day, did not cite the president by name when discussing Israel, but did blame what he called weak U.S. leadership for the attack by Iran.

Echoing a Truth Social post earlier in the day, Trump said the attack "would not have happened" if "we were in office."

− David Jackson

Biden says commitment to Israel’s security 'ironclad'

President Joe Biden said that he met with his national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” he said on  social media .

Sirens, booms across Israel as 10-year-old critically injured

Sirens sounded off across Israel amid Iranian drone attacks, according to Israel Defense Forces.

The IDF issued a flurry of alerts on Telegram for sirens sounding from southern Israel to northern Israel. This also included Jerusalem, the Negev and Dead Sea regions, among others.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service, said there were no casualties reported, but a 10-year-old boy in the Bedouin area in the Arad region is in critical condition. On social media , MDA said first responders were treating the boy.

It was unclear whether he was injured by missile fragments or an interceptor, Times of Israel reported.

Earlier, MDA said sirens sounded across the country but there were no reports of casualties aside from calls of “stress symptoms” and people injured running for cover.

Trump attacks Biden over Iran attack; claims it wouldn't have happened under him

Former President Donald Trump reacted to the attack by referring to himself.

"ISRAEL IS UNDER ATTACK! This should never have been allowed to happen - This would NEVER have happened if I were President!" the presumptive Republican presidential candidate said in one of a string of Truth Social posts.

In other posts, Trump taunted Biden for not giving a live speech on the attack, and said the U.S. would always stand behind Israel.

Trump may address the situation during a campaign rally near Allentown, Pa.

Jordan shoots down dozens of Iranian drones to help Israel

Jordan shot down dozens of Iranian drones above northern and central Jordan en route to Israel, Reuters reported citing two security sources.

The news outlet reported Iran said it had been watching if Jordan made any moves seen as supporting Israel, warning that Jordan could be the next target, Reuters reported.

Iranian drone attack makes Israel attack on embassy ‘concluded,’ Iran U.N. mission says

Iran’s mission to the UN. said its drone attack against Israel marks the end of its response to Israel suspected bombing Iran's embassy in Syria in early April.

“The matter can be deemed concluded,” Iran’s mission said in a social media post Saturday evening. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!”

Lawmakers respond to Iran attack on Israel

Reactions from lawmakers were largely divided among partisan lines, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, stating the "Biden Administration's undermining of Israel and appeasement of Iran have contributed to these terrible developments," and GOP Rep. Mike Crenshaw, R-Texas, arguing that "Biden signaled waning support for Israel. Now a potential war is erupting."

Other GOP lawmakers such as Sen. Roger Wicker, the top-ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the U.S. to stand with Israel.

“Our shared enemies, including Iran and their proxies, need to know our commitment is unwavering. We must join with Israel to ensure that Iran’s aggression is met with resolute action and resounding strength," Wicker, R-Miss., said.

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada also said, "The United States stands firmly with Israel and its right to defend itself against attacks from Iran and its terrorist proxies." 

The senator said she would keep working to get legislation passed that provides additional military aid to Israel.

"What is happening now in the Middle East is why the house should have voted for the Senate passed security bill that supports Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in their fight for sovereignty and democratic principles," Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., said in a X post, calling the U.S. the "backbone of the free world."

Drones key to Iran and its militias against U.S., Israel, researchers say

Drones have been key to Iran and militant groups it supports to attack U.S. forces and allies, according to the Iran Primer, a consortium of scholars who study the country.

Iran first developed rudimentary drones during its war with Iraq in the 1980s, Iran Primer's article said Friday. Today, Iranian drones are used for combat as suicide drones that explode on impact, or by traveling long distances to launch munitions at targets. They are also used for surveillance to identify targets using photo and video.

Iran began sending drones to Hezbollah, the militant group it backs in Lebanon, in the 2000s. In 2006, Hezbollah used drones against Israel in its 34-day war. They’ve reportedly since been used against ISIS militants, as well as in attacks in Saudi oilfields and in Iraq against U.S. military and diplomatic targets. Since 2022, Iran has supplied Russia with drones starting to use against civilian and military targets in Ukraine. Iran’s use of drones has increased in Syria, Iraq and Jordan after the war began between Hamas and Israel. In January, an Iranian-made drone killed three American soldiers in Jordan , while Houthi militants, backed by Iran, used Iranian-designed drones to attack ships in the Red Sea .

While some Iranian drones are small, carrying as little as 7 pounds of explosives, others can have payloads of up to 1,240 pounds. Many are modeled on captured American drones, Iran Primer said.

Plans in place ahead of drones, defense not ‘hermetic,’ IDF says

Israel plans to cut GPS services in certain areas as part of its plan to counter Iran launching drones at the country, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a briefing Saturday evening.

“The IDF and the Israeli Air Force are implementing the plan we prepared in advance,” Hagari said in remarks. “As part of the preparations, GPS services will not be available in certain areas - the disruption is deliberate and according to plan. If we detect additional threats with a shorter arrival time, we will update you immediately.”

Hagari reminded Israelis of Home Front Command , which helps prepare civilians for conflicts or disasters. With sirens activated, IDF said people must enter shelters and remain there for no less than 10 minutes, though he said it could be longer. He encouraged Israelis to act responsibly and calmly. The IDF remains cooperating with the U.S. and partners in the region to counter launches and intercept them, he added. Protection includes the Israeli Air Force and Navy personnel, as well as the Aerial Defense Array, which includes the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System.

The defense is not “hermetic,” he said, adding it’s crucial to follow the country's Home Front Command.

U.S. promises to support Israel in face of Iran attack

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke Saturday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and “made clear that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies,” according to a readout of their call provided by Pentagon press secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. 

National security adviser Jake Sullivan also affirmed the U.S.' "ironclad commitment to the security of Israel" in a call with his counterpart in Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, Sullivan said Saturday.

Netanyahu said in an address he appreciates the U.S. and other allies' support.

How long until the Iranian drones reach Israel?

The dozens of drones that were launched could take hours to arrive, according to Israel's top-rated Channel 12 TV news. Retired general Amos Yadlin told the channel the drones were equipped with 20 kg of explosives. Israel's military said sirens will sound in any threatened areas. Iran has threatened to retaliate for an April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that killed seven of its military commanders. Iran blames Israel for the attack, but Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement.

Iran readies missiles for potential attack, US official says

Iran has been observed preparing cruise missiles for use in a potential attack on Israel, according to a U.S. official briefed on the matter.

Meanwhile, national security officials remained focused Saturday on Iran’s next steps, a second official said. Both officials were not authorized to speak publicly.

Biden confirmed Friday that U.S. intelligence showed that an Iranian attack on Israel could happen soon. Iran has vowed revenge for the April 1 airstrike. Iran blames Israel for the airstrike; Israel has not publicly acknowledged its role in the attack.

Iran’s anticipated retaliation comes as tensions have spiked in the Middle East as Israel’s war against Hamas continues. The Pentagon has bolstered defenses for the tens of thousands of U.S. troops in the region in advance of the prospect of an imminent attack on Israel and Western interests.

More: Israelis ask if world has forgotten their hostages six months after the trauma of Oct. 7

More: Pregnant women in Gaza Strip face starvation, no anesthesia after 6 months of war

Iranian forces seize ship with ties to Israel in Strait of Hormuz

Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

Iranian state media reported that the MSC Aries ship, which carries a Portuguese flag, was taken into Iranian waters. The ship's operator, MSC, confirmed the seizure by Iran and said it was working with authorities to ensure its return and the safety of the crew.

The crew includes Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. Watson said the seizing of a "civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law" and an act of piracy.

"We strongly condemn the Iranian seizure of the Portuguese flagged, British-owned MSC AIRES in international waters," Watson said on X .

Ship incident comes amid Houthi attacks in Red Sea

The Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen has been attacking ships in the Red Sea for months, saying it aims for Israel-linked ships.

The ship seized on Saturday is owned by Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac is partly owned by an Israeli businessman. Zodiac said in a statement that MSC leases the Aries and is responsible for its activities.

"Iran will bear consequences for choosing to escalate this situation any further," said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for Israel's military.

Hasan Alhasan, an analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Reuters that if the seizure of the ship is in retaliation for the April 1 attack, it may indicate Iran's desire to save face without causing a wider escalation of the regional conflict. "Iran may be trying to play on fears that it could obstruct shipping through the strait, a passageway of greater significance to global oil and gas supplies than the Red Sea," Alhasan said.

Body found of missing Israeli teen

Israeli officials said the body of a 14-year-old boy who went missing near the Malachei Shalom outpost on Friday morning was found Saturday in the West Bank.

Binyamin Achimair's death was a "terrorist attack," the Israeli military said, while Netanyahu vowed the perpetrators would be found.

Israeli forces were searching "from the air and on the ground" Friday, while groups of Israeli settlers stormed a nearby Palestinian village and set fire to houses and cars overnight. One person was killed and several injured in the conflict, Palestinian officials said.

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law by most of the world, which Israel contests. The settlements house Israeli citizens in the occupied land.

Contributing: Reuters