"K" (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) Line's 9,040 TEU-Hamburg Bridge, a Panama flagged, Filipino crewed containership barely escaped pirates 250 miles (450 kilometres) east of Gulf of Aden, but sped away safely just in time.
The ship sustained minor damage to the hull, but quickly accelerated and took evasive action. After about 45 minutes, the pirates ended pursuit, said a "K" Line statement.
No one was injured in the attack, and no oil leaked from the hull and the Hamburg Bridge continued the voyage to Port Said via the Suez Canal, said "K" Line.
Separately, Dutch marines sidestepped EU bureaucracy to rescue the German owned 925-TEU Taipan from Somali pirates in a daring special forces raid to free a German cargo ship from the pirates.
The drama unfolded after the Dutch frigate Tromp briefly opted out of the timid EU anti-piracy policy to bypass Brussels bureaucracy, reported The Associated Press.
The Dutch frigate's commander said he sought authorisation from his own government to attack the Taipan after hearing that the 15-strong crew had locked themselves in a bullet proof room.
The bullet proof room or panic room is one of the defensive techniques used, but seaman often prefer the muster point method, which establishes a place where the ship's company can gather to surrender.
The bullet proof room idea is opposed because it may not be proof against high explosives pirates may bring to get through to barricaded crewmen, who would suffer injury or death if fragments of bulkhead ricocheted around their supposedly secure chamber.
The London Independent reported the Taipan crew had shut down the ship's engines. The vessel, with a low freeboard amidships, was almost at a standstill when the pirates boarded, the Dutch navy said.
A helicopter gunship from the Dutch frigate strafed the bridge, then the landed the boarding party that retook vessel.
Source : HKSG, 09.04.10.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar