Egyptian Ship Was Under Attack, One Injured

A German Navy helicopter came to the rescue Thursday of an Egyptian ship that was attacked by Somali armed pirates in a speedboat.

The ship, the Wadi al-Arab, was passing through the Gulf of Aden when the pirates began their pusuit. Another passing ship notified the International Maritime Bureau, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who then requested assistance from a multinational naval coalition force in the area.

The New York Times reports that help came in the form of a helicopter, dispatched from the German Navy frigate Karlsruhe, driving away the pirates.

One person aboard the Wadi al-Arab was shot and wounded in the attack. A second helicopter was then dispatched, bringing a medical team and evacuating the injured crewman to the Karlsruhe, where he was treated.

Ahmed Rizq, Deputy Foreign Minister of Egypt, said the Wadi al-Arab, transporting a shipment of wheat from the Ukraine to South Korea, continued on its way after the ordeal.

The Karlsruhe is one of more than a dozen warships in a multi-national coalition protecting the busy shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. Ships from the US, Britain, France, Germany, Iran and India are participating.

Last week, China also announced its intent to assist in the gulf, and dispatched two destroyers and a supply ship from the southern island province of Hainan, carrying 70 special operations forces and a crew of 800, Xinhua said.

Somali pirates hijacking passing ships have made an estimated $30 million in ransoms this year, the Times said.

FMI: www.marine.de