kookaburra
18-05-2009, 10:43
This was being reported on the TV news bulletins this evening. Pity the pirates got away!
From ABC News:
Australian Navy helps foil pirate attack
HMAS Sydney and HMAS Ballarat were off the Yemeni coast last night (Australian time) when they heard a distress call.
The merchant ship MV-Dubai Princess was being attacked by pirates using rocket-propelled grenades, and another was also being harassed in the same area.
The Navy says the pirates fled when the Australian ships and a Sea Hawk helicopter arrived in the area.
"It appears the scene de-escalated once Sydney and Ballarat asserted their presence," the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said.
"Their actions were swift and decisive and have contributed to intentional counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden."
The merchants ships were escorted to safety and the two Australian frigates have now sailed though the gulf.
----
The Defence Department picture below accompanied the report.
From ABC News:
Australian Navy helps foil pirate attack
HMAS Sydney and HMAS Ballarat were off the Yemeni coast last night (Australian time) when they heard a distress call.
The merchant ship MV-Dubai Princess was being attacked by pirates using rocket-propelled grenades, and another was also being harassed in the same area.
The Navy says the pirates fled when the Australian ships and a Sea Hawk helicopter arrived in the area.
"It appears the scene de-escalated once Sydney and Ballarat asserted their presence," the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said.
"Their actions were swift and decisive and have contributed to intentional counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden."
The merchants ships were escorted to safety and the two Australian frigates have now sailed though the gulf.
----
The Defence Department picture below accompanied the report.