Vella Gulf nabs 9 more suspected pirates

[unhappycamper]

Visit, board, search and seizure team members from the cruiser Vella Gulf apprehend seven suspected pirates Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden.


Vella Gulf nabs 9 more suspected pirates
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 13, 2009 5:53:35 EST

Sailors from the cruiser Vella Gulf apprehended nine suspected pirates early Thursday in the Gulf of Aden, less than 24 hours after the ship rounded up seven other suspects.

A boarding team from the Norfolk-based cruiser captured and disarmed the suspects about 4 a.m. Thursday, according to information from 5th Fleet in Bahrain.

Vella Gulf has received a distress call from an Indian-flagged merchant ship that reported being shot at by suspected pirates in an apparent boarding attempt.

Vella Gulf launched one of its helicopters, which had to fire two warning shots at the skiff before the suspects stopped. Boarding teams from Vella Gulf and the destroyer Mahan then approached and boarded the skiff, finding weapons, according to 5th Fleet.

Hours before in the Gulf of Aden, Vella Gulf sailors captured seven suspected pirates who tried to board a Marshall Islands-flagged merchant ship. The hijackers were thwarted when the crew “removed” their ladder.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/navy_piratecapture_021209/%2e