Dutch marines storm cargo ship seized by pirates

The Dutch navy claimed a rare victory in the war against international piracy earlier in the week after marines abseiled from a helicopter to seize control of a captured container ship following a shootout with Somali hijackers, the Independent reported.

One Dutch marine was slightly injured during the storming of the German ship MS Taipan, which had been boarded early on Monday by 10 Somali pirates from small boats armed with machine guns. The 15-man German crew of MS Taipan had radioed for help after taking refuge in a secure cabin on board the ship.

The Dutch frigate Tromp was called to the scene and caught up with the MS Taipan some 560 miles off the Somali coast because the German crew had managed to shut down the ship's engines. The vessel was almost at a standstill as the pirates boarded, the Dutch navy said.

Despite the damage to the ship's bridge, the MS Taipan was then able to continue its voyage from the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Djibouti. The marines detained the 10 Somali pirates on board the ship.

The raid was described as an exceptional feat as most attempts to stop piracy on the high seas usually result in captured ships being left in the hands of their hijackers because of fears for the safety of the crew.

Piracy increased globally by 40 percent last year, with almost half of the 406 incidents attributed to Somalis.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 and its lawless coastline is a haven for pirates. At least 17 ships and more than 240 crew are believed to be held by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Large ransoms have become a way to make money in the impoverished nation.

(Source: Cargo News Asia)