Why is it that virtually any ship with square sails and masts is referred to by the media as a “pirate ship?” Yesterday, a replica of the Nao Santa Maria, the ship that carried Columbus across the Atlantic on his first voyage, ran aground in New York harbor off Brooklyn. A dozen or so news outlets all ran a variation of the same headline — “Replica Pirate Ship Runs Aground in NY Harbor.”
To be fair the blame may lie primarily with the New York Special Ops which tweeted: Ahoy! Low tide helps stop a pirate invasion. A replica pirate ship ran aground while navigating the New York Harbor this afternoon. #NYPD Harbor Charlie will be keeping a watchful eye on the uninjured pirates as they wait for the incoming tide to go on their way.