US Navy ship fired on Somali pirates

Jun 7, 2007
Author: P&S

It now transpires that a US warship fired shots across the bow of the Danish cargo ship DANICA WHITE after it had been boarded by armed pirates off the Somali coast (see Ports & Ships News Bulletin of 4 June 2007).

The USS CARTER HALL (LSD50), a dock landing ship which is also equipped with helicopters, attempted to intercept the captured ship after the pirates seized control and ordered the crew to head for the coast. The US ship also fired on three small craft used by the pirates to attack the Danish ship and which were still circling the freighter.

It was earlier reported and has since been confirmed that a French warship had also monitored the incident but declined to take action as the seizure took place in Somali waters.



Pic of the day – USNS PATHFINDER

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The oceanographic survey ship USNS PATHFINDER (T-AGS 60) seen in Cape Town harbour on 24 May 2007, and photographed by Ian Shiffman