Posted on 12/11/2007 7:44:26 PM PST by RDTF
TOKYO (AP) - Pirates freed a Japanese chemical tanker loaded with highly explosive benzene off the coast of Somalia Wednesday, six weeks after seizing the vessel and its crew, a U.S. Navy spokesman said.
All 22 crew members were unhurt, the Navy said, and the pirates were seen heading toward the Somali coast.
The Golden Nori was seized off the east coast of Somalia in late October carrying up to 40,000 tons of benzene. The U.S. Navy came to the aid of the vessel that month, with the guided missile destroyer USS Porter opening fire to destroy pirate skiffs tied to the ship, and the Navy monitoring the ship afterward.
"All the pirates are off the ship, and the first indication is that all crew members are unharmed," Lt. John Gay, a U.S. Navy spokesman told The Associated Press.
The 6,253-ton tanker was carrying crew from Myanmar, the Philippines and South Korea. One of the two South Korean crew members escaped and was rescued by a passing vessel in early November.
Gay said a U.S. Navy vessel was still monitoring the ship, while standing by for a possible request for assistance.
The Golden Nori is expected to "go to a safe port," Gay said. "If necessary, we will provide an escort."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Send the bill to the Japanese.
Bizarre! We destroyed their skiffs. They were “seen” heading
for shore. By whom? In what?
Our Navy was there? WTF?
Perhaps lifeboats from the Japanese vessel were used for their escape, but you’re entirely correct that there are unanswered questions in this report.
One presumes that the pirates took the sailors as hostages in the life boats.
The Golden Nori is expected to “go to a safe port,” Gay said.
Better it go to a safe port than to a gay port.
A Predator prowling the skies to track where these guys headed to once they made land, and then a little missile present from Santa would seem to be in order to me.
Santa’s Sleigh is armed with Hellfire Missiles? Gosh, he must be going high tech these days = )
I bet Lieutenant Gay has a very thick skin.
He had to after the first attack by the muslim terrorists at the north pole.
The skiffs were used by the pirates to intercept and board the tanker. They were being towed astern of the tanker when they were destroyed but the pirates were already on board and in control of the tanker. The tanker escaped into Somali territorial waters where it was held until released. USN and multinational CTF 150 forces will not enter Somali territorial waters in pursuit of pirates (although I thought I recently saw a change in this policy).
P.S. My last ship was part of this force in late 2005-early 2006.
Thank You.
1. Thank you for your service!
2. Thanks for the explanation.
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