Maersk Texas Fends Off Pirate Attack in Gulf of Oman

According to Reuters, the Maersk Texas, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship was attacked by Pirates in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday.

A unit of Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk, Maersk Line Ltd, reported that the onboard guards managed to fend off the attack.

A 19,592 deadweight tonnes (dwt) vessel which is 148 metres (486 feet) long, was on its way to the United States and it was passing through the Gulf of Oman, northeast of the Arab Emirates Port of Fujairah when it was attacked.

Regardless of the issued warnings not to approach the ship, the pirates advanced toward the vessel, leaving the security team no other choice but to return fire, as stipulated by the U.S. Coast Guard rules of engagement.

“All hands onboard are safe and unharmed, and the vessel is proceeding on its voyage,” the company said.

Earlier this month, Somali pirates hijacked a Greek-owned oil tanker in the Arabian Sea. It was the first successful attack on a tanker off the Horn of Africa in more than a year.

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Naval Today Staff , May 24, 2012