<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published November 20, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Maersk ship fends off Somali pirates' attack
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<SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=xa-4ae026ba0e05c08d"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var addthis_config = { username: "xa-4ae026ba0e05c08d", services_compact: 'facebook, twitter, favorites, myspace, google, digg, live, delicious, stumbleupon, more', services_exclude: 'print', data_use_flash: false } </SCRIPT> <!-- AddThis Button END --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(MANAMA) Security guards onboard the Maersk-Alabama container ship fended off Somali pirates in a shoot-out on Wednesday, months after a previous raid ended with the dramatic rescue of the vessel's skipper. The US ship was attacked 560 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Somalia, the Bahrain-based US Navy's Fifth Fleet said.
Pirates came within 275 metres of the Maersk before being beaten back by a security team using small arms and a pain-inducing acoustic weapon, the navy said. No injuries or damage were reported on board.
The Pentagon later praised the defences employed by the ship, part of measures recommended to companies plying Somalia's pirate infested waters. 'Due to Maersk-Alabama following maritime industry's best practices, such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates,' said Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command. 'There is a debate within the shipping industry on whether or not to embark security teams. That's an individual decision. We clearly think that if you value your cargo, you need that last line of defence.' - AFP
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Maersk ship fends off Somali pirates' attack
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<SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=xa-4ae026ba0e05c08d"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var addthis_config = { username: "xa-4ae026ba0e05c08d", services_compact: 'facebook, twitter, favorites, myspace, google, digg, live, delicious, stumbleupon, more', services_exclude: 'print', data_use_flash: false } </SCRIPT> <!-- AddThis Button END --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(MANAMA) Security guards onboard the Maersk-Alabama container ship fended off Somali pirates in a shoot-out on Wednesday, months after a previous raid ended with the dramatic rescue of the vessel's skipper. The US ship was attacked 560 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Somalia, the Bahrain-based US Navy's Fifth Fleet said. Pirates came within 275 metres of the Maersk before being beaten back by a security team using small arms and a pain-inducing acoustic weapon, the navy said. No injuries or damage were reported on board.
The Pentagon later praised the defences employed by the ship, part of measures recommended to companies plying Somalia's pirate infested waters. 'Due to Maersk-Alabama following maritime industry's best practices, such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates,' said Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command. 'There is a debate within the shipping industry on whether or not to embark security teams. That's an individual decision. We clearly think that if you value your cargo, you need that last line of defence.' - AFP
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