Maersk Alabama attacked a second time / photo: EPA
For the second time in seven months, Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama, although private guards were able to repel the attack with a high-decibel noise device and gun fire.
The ship, headed to the Kenyan coast, is now being monitored by a surveillance plane as it continues on to its destination.
A pirate has said that the captain of a North Korean ship highjacked Monday has died of wounds.
Last April, pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama and took captain Richard Phillips as hostage. In a night-time attack, sharpshooters were able to free Phillips and kill all three pirates holding him captive. Phillips was not on the ship during Wednesday's attack.
The ship was attacked on Wednesday by four pirates around 6:30 am local time. They fired automatic weapons from about 300 yards away. Guards on the ship used small-arms fire and a Long Range Acoustic Device which sends earsplitting alarm tones.
"Due to Maersk Alabama following maritime industry's best [anti-piracy] practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates," said Navy Vice Admiral William E. Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet. "This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take proactive action to prevent being attacked, and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they're in high-risk areas."
For more information:
- USAToday: Maersk Alabama thwarts Somali pirate attack
- M/V Marsk Alabama deploys LRAD(R) Successfully Deterring Pirate Attack
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