Pirates attack but fail to board US flagged vessel

Pirates attack but fail to board US flagged vessel

This story just broke across CNN. A Liberty owned cargo vessel enroute to Mumbasa for the UN was attacked by pirates who attempted to board the vessel. The US Navy dispatched a ship and helicopters.

(visit the link for the full news article)

The crew reportedly barricaded themselves in the engine room and were emailing a crew members mother. He reported them being hit by an RPG that punched a small hole and started a small fire, but there was no major damage. He reported that they were being hit with a hail of bullets and RPGs, but that the Navy had been notified and helos and ships were on the way. The CNN report said that it was being escorted, and the pirates failed to get on board.

I'll give a link to the story as soon as it comes up.


(visit the link for the full news article)

I'm a little confused here, was this a UN-mandated vessel or a private American vessel carrying cargo for the UN or what?

You say it flew under an American flag...

[edit on 14/4/09 by The Godfather of Conspira]

The Liberty Sun, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship bound for Mombasa, Kenya, was attacked Tuesday by Somali pirates, according to a NATO source with direct knowledge of the matter.
Pirates attacked The Liberty Sun, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, but were unable to board.

Pirates attacked The Liberty Sun, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, but were unable to board.

The pirates never made it onto the ship. The vessel is now being escorted by a coalition ship, still bound for Mombasa.

The source could provide no details on where the vessel was attacked but said it is suspected the pirates were based on a mother ship somewhere in the area.

Early Tuesday pirates off the coast of Somalia also seized two freighters, proving they remain a force to contend with just days after the U.S. Navy dramatically rescued an American captain held by other pirates.

First, pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday hijacked the MV Irene EM, a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier, according to a NATO spokesman and the European Union's Maritime Security Center.

[edit on 4/14/2009 by Zaphod58]

reply to post by The Godfather of Conspira


It's a US owned, US flagged ship chartered by the UN to carry relief supplies to Mombasa, Kenya.

reply to post by Zaphod58


I realize that the pirates are all about money but it is stunning to me that they are attacking aid ships bringing supplies to their own people. They can go on and on about the evil westerners but for crying out loud, they are literally biting the hand trying to feed them. Are they incapable of comprehending that? They are trying to generate attacks on their homeland with this behavior. Do they care for no one at all?

reply to post by earlywatcher

I realize that the pirates are all about money but it is stunning to me that they are attacking aid ships bringing supplies to their own people.

This ship was bound for Kenya, not Somalia.

So far they have yet to attack a UN-designated ship bringing aid into Somalia.

The UN's a total joke, a vestigial organ from the Cold War that has no relevance today. Don't take for a minute, their failed attempt to restore order to Somalia in 1993, as a sincere and honest reply to the dire conditions of the Somalian people.

They packed up, as they always do with almost every crisis they get involved in (from Bosnian, Rwanda, Somalia), and left the Somalis twisting in the winds and the entire country to succumb to the warlords and militias they helped to aggravate.

[edit on 14/4/09 by The Godfather of Conspira]

So, our hero pirates somehow got armed with a rocket propelled grenade launcher. No, there is no connection to them and Islamic extremists. They are also declaring open season on sailors as well. Too bad there weren't a couple of Navy ships in the area so one could follow the pirates.

I'm sorry but the pirates declared themselves combatants as soon as they used force on a U.S. ship. They should be treated as such in the future. If they are now purposely going after American flagged ships then they should be dealt with like they were during the 18th century.

Originally posted by earlywatcher
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

I realize that the pirates are all about money but it is stunning to me that they are attacking aid ships bringing supplies to their own people. They can go on and on about the evil westerners but for crying out loud, they are literally biting the hand trying to feed them. Are they incapable of comprehending that? They are trying to generate attacks on their homeland with this behavior. Do they care for no one at all?

You make a great point, but I guarantee you some idiot will come on here and say they are biting the hand that feeds them because we trained them to do that or some such insanity. With some people its always our fault. It must be some kind of sick codependence.

Earlier today the United States flag merchant vessel M/V LIBERTY SUN and its crew, operated by American shipping company Liberty Maritime Corporation of Lake Success, New York, was attacked by Somali pirates. The pirates fired rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons at the vessel which sustained damage. Liberty Maritime immediately requested the assistance of the United States Navy which dispatched forces to assist and protect the crew and the vessel. The Company issued the following statement:

We are grateful and pleased that no one was injured and the crew and the ship are safe. We have communicated with the families of the crew to inform them of these developments. We commend the entire crew for its professionalism and poise under fire.

The LIBERTY SUN was on a voyage enroute to Mombasa, Kenya from Houston, Texas carrying American food aid cargo for African nations suffering from famine. Earlier last week, the vessel had discharged thousands of tons of American food aid cargo in Port Sudan and it was continuing its voyage with additional food aid when it came under attack from the Somali pirates.

Liberty Maritime's first priority has been, and will continue to be, ensuring that the crews aboard our ships are safe. We want to especially thank the United States Navy for its prompt response to our request for assistance. We also wish to thank the U.S. Government for its cooperation in responding to this attack.

www.earthtimes.org...

More on the ship:

M/V Liberty Sun owned by Liberty Maritime Corporation of New York.

Geared Bulk Carrier
Displacement: 64,152T
Cargo capacity: 47,000NMT
Length: 200M
Beam: 32.2M
7 cargo holds

reply to post by GTORick

I'm sorry but the pirates declared themselves combatants

No one here is denying they are not combatants and should be treated as such if they open fire on cargo vessels.

Try the decaf.

Your vain connection between piracy and Islamic Fundamentalism however, holds no merit. The pirates are driven by pure profit and greed. Period. Religious extremism has about as much to do with Somalian piracy as Santa Claus does.

If they are now purposely going after American flagged ships then they should be dealt with like they were during the 18th century.

Those were Turkish Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean.

These are Somalian pirates in the Indian Ocean.

Bit of a difference, these guys aren't raiding ports with giant Galleons and plundering the coasts of Italy looking for treasure.

I think we should hide Chuck Norris and Ted Nugent on board a ship and make it look like it will be easy pickings. Then when the terrorists board, the chain link fence springs up all around the deck so they cannot escape and then Chuck and Ted emerge to the cheers of millions of pay per view customers and commence to kick some boooodaaaay.

Originally posted by The Godfather of Conspira
reply to post by earlywatcher

 

So far they have yet to attack a UN-designated ship bringing aid into Somalia.

One of the news stories on the Alabama stated some of it's food cargo was designated for Somalia. For what the news is worth...

[edit on 4/14/2009 by roadgravel]

Originally posted by justsomeboreddude

Originally posted by earlywatcher
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

I realize that the pirates are all about money but it is stunning to me that they are attacking aid ships bringing supplies to their own people. They can go on and on about the evil westerners but for crying out loud, they are literally biting the hand trying to feed them. Are they incapable of comprehending that? They are trying to generate attacks on their homeland with this behavior. Do they care for no one at all?

You make a great point, but I guarantee you some idiot will come on here and say they are biting the hand that feeds them because we trained them to do that or some such insanity. With some people its always our fault. It must be some kind of sick codependence.

Yes, you are right. There is always some idiot that will blame the U.S. or Israel no matter what the problem is about. They also seem to be experts in a thousand different fields and can comment on everything.

I have always heard "two wrongs doesn't make a right". I believe this to be true here. The warlords, who I have a sneaky idea either support or are the pirates were one of the main reasons Somalia never stabilized with a central government. Although there were other reasons (like 12 different groups who want nothing better than to exterminate each other) it is probably the pirates themselves who are responsible for the Somalian coast going unguarded. Illegal dumping and fishing are crimes but to commit more crimes stating that as a cause is not right.

Originally posted by groingrinder
I think we should hide Chuck Norris and Ted Nugent on board a ship and make it look like it will be easy pickings. Then when the terrorists board, the chain link fence springs up all around the deck so they cannot escape and then Chuck and Ted emerge to the cheers of millions of pay per view customers and commence to kick some boooodaaaay.

That is brilliant. I would definitely pay to see that. Ted could blast him by playing one handed guitar through a giant Marshall stack, while with his other hand he guns them down with a cross bow (He doesnt need a gun because he is just that bad).

reply to post by justsomeboreddude


Ted does not need a bow because his guitar will blow the balls off of a charging Rhino at a hundred paces.


[edit on 4-14-2009 by groingrinder]

[edit on 4-14-2009 by groingrinder]

reply to post by roadgravel


yes, I saw that too. I went to try to find an article to reference but couldn't readily find one so abandoned the effort but I'm certain news reports said that the alabama maersk had already stopped in somalia and was heading for mombasa. I remember the map on tv showing the route. these are not warships or anything that is exploitive unless you subscribe to the view that giveaways enable bad behavior, which is often true but nobody is making that argument about somalia at this point. I believe the pirates' strongholds on land are as usual using innocent civilians as shields so they cannot be attacked, as well as the hostages being in danger if anybody tries to do anything at all. As usual anyone who tries to intervene is "at fault" for not being sympathetic enough.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Just send in about 300 merceneries with their own mother ship.
Take out the pirates.
They will run home when they see the mercs coming at them.
$40 million should be enough to pay for it.
It could all be over in 2 months.
Think about it.

The USS Bainbridge was the first USN Vessel on scene, and of course, we know who is still onboard that ship....


[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4f0789d44bdc.jpg[/atsimg]

Originally posted by earlywatcher
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

I realize that the pirates are all about money but it is stunning to me that they are attacking aid ships bringing supplies to their own people. They can go on and on about the evil westerners but for crying out loud, they are literally biting the hand trying to feed them. Are they incapable of comprehending that? They are trying to generate attacks on their homeland with this behavior. Do they care for no one at all?

That very question should be foremost in many people's mind. Why would they invite brutal retaliation to their own people? Or could it be that they are not Somali Pirates..., maybe their just Pirates.