New York Post

US, British special forces storm Italian ship seized by Somali pirates

NEWSCORE

Last Updated: 11:43 AM, October 11, 2011

Posted: 9:26 AM, October 11, 2011

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ROME -- US and British naval forces Tuesday freed an Italian cargo ship seized by pirates off the Somali coast, releasing the crew and taking the attackers into custody.
The Italian vessel, the Montecristo, had 23 crew on board when it was attacked by pirates Monday. It was freed in a joint operation carried out by Royal Marines from Britain's RFA Fort Victoria and the USS De Wert, part of NATO's operation Ocean Shield which protects the waters off the Horn of Africa.
The US vessel first approached the ship, while British forces prepared a mission to board it.

The Italian ship Montecristo docked in a harbor in Italy.

The USS De Wert "was the first ship to close in and assess the situation while the boarding team on Fort Victoria got ready," Lieutenant Gwenn Laine, a spokesman for Ocean Shield, told NewsCore. "The crew of the ship confined themselves in the engine room of the ship and they managed to send the information to NATO forces that they were safe and well."
He added, "NATO forces got on board and the pirates surrendered immediately. No one on board from the team, the crew or the pirates were injured."
The operation was launched following discussions between British defense secretary Liam Fox and his Italian counterpart Ignazio La Russa, Italy's ANSA news agency reported. The Montecristo crew included seven Italians, 10 Ukrainians and six Indian nationals.


Kevin is on the USS DEWERT