Cargo Ship Returns to Port After Pirate Attack; All Maritime Workers Safe
A cargo vessel that sailed from the Port of Houston and was attacked by Somali pirates, arrived at a Kenyan port with a U.S. Navy escort. Its 20-member maritime crew arrived safely and unharmed.
The ship, Liberty Sun, reached Mombassa last week. Last Wednesday, a gang of Somali pirates attacked the ship using rocket propelled grenades. The USS Bainbridge, which was carrying Captain Richard Phillips, the captain of the earlier hijacked Maersk Alabama, was called to help the crew of the Liberty Sun. However, by the time the Navy destroyer reached the area, the pilots had abandoned their plans. None of the crew members aboard the Liberty Sun were injured in the attacks, the vessel, however, sustained significant damage.
The bold attack that came so soon after the dramatic assault on the Maersk Alabama is proof that piracy in the waters off the Somali Coast is not just alive and kicking, but more aggressive than ever. Three of the pilots who attacked the Alabama were killed and the fourth was arrested. Enraged pirates have threatened to show no mercy to maritime crews in any vessel they attack from now on. Those words must be taken seriously. After all, since the three Somali pirates were killed, another armed gunmen managed to attack four other ships. To maritime attorneys, who work closely with injured workers, it is clear that this is not a minor law and order problem, but a grave maritime security issue.
President Barack Obama announced his intention to wipe out piracy, and maritime authorities issued warnings to ships to be alert to the dangers off the Somali coast. Maritime workers are not generally trained to deal with pirate attacks. It is obvious that security procedures on these vessels need to be enhanced, so workers and crew members are able to protect themselves if the vessel is intercepted by pirates. So far, there are very few answers to the piracy problem.
Maritime Safety
Maritime companies, meanwhile, are trying to find a balance that can keep their vessels and maritime workers safe, but their options are expensive. Some companies, including AP Roller Maersk, have begun to reroute part of their fleet to avoid these pirate infested waters. Other companies have not been so quick to follow suit. The detour is expensive and with a global economic crisis hitting the maritime transport industry, companies are not willing to rack up costs by rerouting vessels.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident an experienced maritime attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact a maritime injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP to answer questions about your case.
