US company's ship damaged in Somali pirate attack
The Associated Press, New York, US | Wed, 04/15/2009 10:01 AM
Somali pirates have attacked and damaged an American ship carrying humanitarian aid, but the ship and crew are safe under Navy escort.
A U.S. Central Command spokesman says the Liberty Sun reported being attacked around 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) Tuesday. The vessel's owner, Lake Success, New York-based Liberty Maritime Corp., says the pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. The ship was en route from Houston to Mombasa, Kenya.
The military spokesman, Navy Capt. Jack Hanzlik, says the Liberty Sun has a crew of about 20.
He says the USS Bainbridge sailed to the scene and reported on arriving at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT) that the pirates had left, and there were no injuries.
The Liberty Sun is continuing on its way to Mombasa.
