US, Turks catch pirates, save MOL-run Bahamas-flagged tanker

A US DESTROYER and a Turkish frigate rescued a Bahamas-flagged, Japanese-controlled oil tanker from the clutches of Somali pirates, taking four of them into custody.


Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), which controls the ship, reported that none of the crew was injured and there was no leakage of oil or other petroleum products. The vessel is continuing under its own power to safe waters.


The 9,200-ton destroyer USS Bulkeley, assisted by 4,100-ton Turkish frigate TCG Giresun also freed 24 crewmen of the Bahamian-flagged Aframax tanker Guanabara which was attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean 400 nautical miles east of Oman.


The USS Bulkeley, on patrol with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-piracy squadron Combined Task Force 151 commanded by a Pakistani commodore, went to intercept the 57,462-ton Guanabara with the support of Turkish frigate Giresun.


The master of the Guanabara's confirmed that pirates were aboard and his crew had taken refuge in the ship's "citadel", or panic room.


A boarding party, supported by an SH-60 helicopter, secured the vessel and arrested four men without a shot fired by either side.


"Through mutual cooperation and coordination, we have prevented the kidnapping of mariners who sought only to go peacefully about their business," said CMF 151 commander, Commodore Abdul Alheem, of the Pakistani Navy.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)