Pirates overboard as US crew seizes ship back in Indian Ocean
An American crew has seized back control of a container ship that was commandeered by pirates in the Indian Ocean today, according to the Pentagon.
The military official said the crew was holding one pirate in custody while the others were reported to “be in the water”. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not confirm how the Somalis found their way into the ocean.
Somali pirates hijacked the US-flagged container ship off the Horn of Africa, the first such attack on American interests.
UPDATE: According to Fox, the pirates may have one American hostage. We’re sending warships into the area.
UPDATE 2: Via the Guardian: Somali pirates pick on the wrong ship:
For once Somali pirates appear to have chosen the wrong boat to hijack. They have come to expect a lucrative bounty whenever they seize boats in the Indian ocean. But on board the Maersk Alabama was a US crew who were not only trained in anti-piracy tactics but who also took the unusual step of fighting back when their cargo ship was seized by gunmen yesterday morning
Great article. I wonder why fighting back is ‘unusual?’
April 8, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Cool!
Hey sharks, over here! LUNCHTIME!
April 8, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I hope the scurvy dogs had to walk the plank..
April 9, 2009 at 12:15 am
Another thing to bring along for the voyage: chum.
April 9, 2009 at 2:25 pm
They’re still negotiating for the release of the captain.
I still don’t understand why sailors on merchant vessels aren’t allowed to carry arms, but the fact that they were unarmed makes their actions all the more amazing. No matter what happens, they deserve some sort of medal – or a Wall-St. sized bonus.