Pirates

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>Somali Pirates hijacked US Flag containership with all-American crew of 21 on board!!!</p>

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<p>CNN just said the ship is MURSK Alabama</p>

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<p>correction Maersk Alabama</p>

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<p>April 8, 2009
Somali Pirates Seize Ship With 21 U.S. Crew Members
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 6:40 a.m. ET</p>

<p>NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 21 crew members aboard, a diplomat and a U.S. Navy spokesman said.</p>

<p>The Kenya-based diplomat identified the vessel as the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama and said all the crew members are American. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.</p>

<p>The U.S. Navy confirmed that a U.S. flagged ship with 21 members of crew was hijacked early Wednesday off the eastern coast of Somalia.</p>

<p>Spokesman Lt. Nathan Christensen said the attacked happened in the early hours of the morning hours, about 280 miles (450 kilometers) northeast of Eyl, a town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia.</p>

<p>Christensen said there were U.S. citizens aboard the ship, but he did not say how many. He declined to release the name of the ship until the family members of the crew are notified.</p>

<p>He said the ship was operated by the Danish company Maersk, which deals with the U.S. Department of Defense. Christensen said the vessel was not working under a Pentagon contract when hijacked.</p>

<p>Maersk Kenya Managing Director Rolf Nielsen said the company was still verifying reports of the hijacking. An U.S. embassy spokeswoman was not immediately able to confirm the incident.</p>

<p>Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Program said the ship was taken about 400 miles (640 kilometers) from the Somali capital, Mogadishu.</p>

<p>The vessel is the sixth to be seized within a week and the first with an all-American crew.</p>

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<p>This is horrifying news this day with this being the first time they’ve gotten an all American crew. Praying for all.</p>

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<p>Maersk press release page
[Maersk</a> Alabama attacked by pirates](<a href=“http://media.maersk.com/en/PressReleases/2009/Pages/APMM080409.aspx]Maersk”>http://media.maersk.com/en/PressReleases/2009/Pages/APMM080409.aspx)</p>

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<p>KP just made an announcement that no KP Mids are on the Alabama.</p>

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<p>Thank God. But you know this will continue because: IT WORKS. I too am praying for the crew and hope this prompts stronger remediation!!!</p>

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<p>The licensed deck officers of the MAERSK ALABAMA are all members of the Masters, Mates & Pilots union. </p>

<p>One of the Captains is Kevin McHugh who is a KP alum. I think he graduated in 1976. I’ve met him on several occasions in our union hall in San Francisco. He’s a great guy and if he’s aboard, I hope he and his crew are all okay.</p>

<p>Here’s a link to a PDF version of a fairly recent MM&P magazine that features an article on page 7 about the ship. It’s ironic that the article is about the crew making donations to orphanages in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa…</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bridgedeck.org/mmp_mags/2007/2007Nov_Dec.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bridgedeck.org/mmp_mags/2007/2007Nov_Dec.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I think it’s amazing for them to help out the children. I hope this terrible incident does not stop that. Those poor kids in that nation need a lot of help, especially with the medical supplies. </p>

<p>I’m praying for the crew and hope that our Navy FINALLY does something about this. In the spirit of the US I hope the Navy upholds the meaning of the Navy Jack!~!!</p>

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<p>the word just out, is that the crew has regained control of the vessel by overpowering the pirates… How about that!!</p>

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<p>one pirate was taken into custody and the other three went swimming…</p>

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<p>More news on the incident…</p>

<p>

</p>

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<p>Sweet! Amazing…an American ship gets it done in a few hours…while other ships get taken over for months…hmmmmmm…another reason we need a stronger and larger US fleet!</p>

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<p>Thank God! I can’t wait for the details of how they did it. I don’t like seeing these scumbags get their ransoms. A few setbacks like this may help the situation.</p>

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<p>HOORAY FOR THE GOOD OLE USA!!! I love it!! This definitely makes a LOUD and immediate statement in many ways. I look forward to learning just how they regained the ship.</p>

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<p>more news from the Boston Herald…
[Two</a> Massachusetts Maritime Academy grads aboard pirated ship retaken by American crew - BostonHerald.com](<a href=“http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_04_08_MMA_grad_aboard_ship_seized_by_Somalis/]Two”>http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_04_08_MMA_grad_aboard_ship_seized_by_Somalis/)</p>

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<p>Is KP grad Kevin McHugh aboard?</p>

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<p>

No…not anymore. It looks like he has been transferred, because I just learned that he is currently assigned as the permanent Master of the MAERSK ARIZONA.</p>

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<p>CNN is reporting that the pirates are still holding the Captain hostage…</p>