[210511.EN.SEA] U.S Navy Turns Lethal Kills Four Pirates Firing On Super Tanker

A US NAVY helicopter gunship shot dead four Somali pirates caught firing on a German-owned super tanker, marking a rising severity among naval forces towards pirates operating off Somalia and the Indian Ocean.

The 306,500-ton Artemis Glory was bound for China from the Juuaymah Terminal in Saudi Arabia when it was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, according to a statement from anti-piracy Combined Maritime Force.

A British warship received a distress call from the tanker and confirmed that the tanker was being pursued by a skiff with four men firing small arms at the vessel, reported American Shipper.

The 9,200-ton destroyer USS Bulkeley dispatched a helicopter gunship, and on arrival fired on the skiff. All the pirates were believed killed, the US Navy statement said. The tanker crew was not injured.

Naval forces have shown a growing readiness to fire on pirates and it has been noted that the Indian Navy has been the most aggressive.

Source : HKSG.