Another U.S. Cargo Ship Escapes Somali Pirate Attack

Another U.S. Cargo Ship Escapes Somali Pirate Attack
By Stephanie McCrummen
Copyright by The Washington Post
Wednesday, April 15, 2009; 9:32 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/14/AR2009041400194.html?hpid=topnews


MOMBASA, Kenya, April 15 -- Somali pirates Wednesday attempted to commandeer another U.S. cargo ship, the Liberty Sun, but were thwarted, and the ship is headed toward port here with naval guards, officials from the U.S. Navy said.

Lt. Nathan Christensen, the deputy spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain, said the USS Bainbridge destroyer, which had led the rescue of the U.S. cargo ship Maersk Alabama last week, was five hours away from the Liberty Sun but responded when the alert of the attack was received.

The pirate attack occurred about 285 nautical miles southeast of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Christensen said. The pirates had departed by the time the Bainbridge arrived. It was not immediately clear how the Liberty Sun, which reportedly carried a cargo of food aid, thwarted the assault.

The Associated Press reported that the pirates fired grenades and automatic weapons at the freighter, which sustained some damage, according to its owner, Liberty Maritime Corp.

The cargo ship carries a crew of about 20 and all were reported safe.

A security contingent from the Bainbridge boarded the Liberty Sun and will provide a guard until it reaches the port of Mombasa.

The Bainbridge is also on the way to Mombasa, where it will drop off Capt. Richard Phillips of the Maersk-Alabama, who was held captive by pirates for several days. Naval officials said the two ships are not sailing together but are traveling along the same path.

The diversion to help the Liberty Sun apparently will slow Phillips's reunion with his crew. Most of them flew back to the United States earlier in the day and are expected to arrive late tonight at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County.