Not Again! U.S. Ship Fends Off Pirate Attack!

Not Again! U.S. Ship Fends Off Pirate Attack New York based vessel was damaged, but crew was unhurt

By TAMER EL-GHOBASHY

Heavily armed Somali pirates attacked a U.S. cargo ship Tuesday, lobbing grenades and firing automatic weapons towards the vessel, but failed to seize the ship before a Navy destroyer showed up to provide assistance.

No one in the 20 man crew was injured during the brazen attack, but the New York based ship was damaged, officials from Liberty Maritime Corporation of Lake Success said in a statement.

"We are grateful and pleased that no one was injured and the crew and the ship are safe," the statement from the Long Island based company said. "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 attack on the Liberty Sun occurred about 300 miles off the coast of Somalia at about 11:30 a.m., U.S. officials told NBC News.

It came just days after U.S. Navy SEALs were able to rescue Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates who had taken him hostage after the bandits failed to capture his cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama.

In the attack, the pirates were not able to board the Liberty Sun despite being heavily armed.

"The pirates pretty much shot up the bridge, but no one was hurt," according to one source.

The crew immediately requested assistance from the Navy, which dispatched forces that were able to thwart the pirates. Navy spokesman Captain Jack Hanzlik said the USS Bainbridge, a destroyer, had arrived to the scene at 5:30 p.m. and that the pirates had left.

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Wow, isn't it strange that Pirates carry guns, but law-abiding open sea boaters can not? Allow them, and the problem will help to solve itself! It will not make it worse, that's for sure. Remeber, guns do not kill anyone...PEOPLE DO! So if the "good people" had them to defend themselves, the "bad people" would think twice about attacking them.