Warning shots fired from Maersk Alabama chase five pirates away

THE US-flagged 1,092-TEU Maersk Alabama, captured by pirates off Somalia in 2009, then rescued when US Navy snipers killed its captors, managed to escape another attack in the Gulf of Aden recently.


Last Saturday, five pirates in a speedboat approached the American-crewed ship, often delivering US aid in the region, fled when private security guards fired warning shots, reported the Danish newspaper Borsen.


The attack occurred in the international transit corridor patrolled by international naval forces, according to the sources, who asked not to be named. The vessel was on its way from Salaleh, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


Such pirate probes, to test the ability of ships to defend themselves or take evasive action, are common, but the Maersk Alabama, operated by Maersk's US unit, Maersk Line Ltd, attracts more attention because of its history.


Some say the Maersk Alabama may be targeted as a trophy ship whose capture would avenge the deaths of 2009 pirates killed by the US Navy and provide American captives.


One analyst told American Shipper that Maersk Line Ltd would be better off renaming the vessel so that it doesn't attract attention from marauders.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)