Saturday, November 15, 2014
Maritime security guards have successfully thwarted a Somali pirate attack on a Zim transport ship as it sailed back home, according to The Times of Israel.
The unidentified Zim container ship was returning from East Asia to Israel when pirates reportedly approached the vessel from two sides in boats and attempted to board the ship. However, the security personnel aboard the ship were able to repel the attack with ‘quick defensive action.’ The suspected pirates eventually gave up and retreated.
The attempted attack took place on Wednesday afternoon in the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, adjacent to Somalia, according to Israeli media sources. Although it was unclear what action the guards took to discourage the pirates.
Somali piracy has dramatically declined in recent years, mainly due to international military cooperation. However, the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, which links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean, is still considered to be a dangerous area, filled with extensive pirate gangs.