Lithuanians escape pirate attack

Mar 15, 2010
TBT Staff

Despite increased security in the region, pirate attacks have continued to plague container ships around the Horn of Africa.

OMAN - A cargo ship manned by Lithuanian and Russian sailors has narrowly escaped an attack by pirates off the horn of Africa.

The ship -- named "Lubeck" and flying under a Liberian flag-- was headed toward Oman when it was attacked late last week, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported. The ship was operated by the German company E.R. Schiffahrt GmbH Cie KG.

The pirates opened fire on the ship, riddling the chimney and cranes with bullet-holes but failing to injure any of the 18 crew members on board.

At 40 kilometers per hour, the ship was significantly faster than the pirate ship that was pursuing it and was able to escape, the Russian news agency reported. 

Pirate activity around the horn of Africa has been quickly growing in the past few years, with attacks coming more and more frequently as the situation on land in Somalia continues to deteriorate.

Both NATO and the EU currently have wide scale anti-piracy initiatives in the region. Other countries, such as Russia, also regularly patrol the region.

SOCIAL BOOKMARKS:   Delicious   Digg   Reddit   Ask   Facebook   MrWong   Netvouz