Pirates Attack L.I.-Owned Ship En Route To Kenya

Military officials say that Somali pirates attacked a ship owned by a Long Island company yesterday. Newsday reports, "Somali pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons at [the ship...which was]...carrying humanitarian aid." The Liberty Sun's crew, none of whom were injured, was escorted by the Navy through the Horn of Africa.

One of the crew members e-mailed his mother, "We are under attack by pirates, we are being hit by rockets. Also bullets... We are barricaded in the engine room and so far no one is hurt. [A] rocket penetrated the bulkhead but the hole is small. Small fire, too, but put out." By the time the Navy destroyer the USS Bainbridge arrived (about six hours after the attack), the pirates were gone. Pirates have promised to retaliate against the U.S. after Navy Seals killed three pirates holding a U.S. container ship captain hostage.

Liberty Maritime issued a statement, "Liberty Maritime's first priority has been, and will continue to be, ensuring that the crews aboard our ships are safe. We want to especially thank the U.S. Navy for its prompt response to our request for assistance."