U.S. Navy Frees Hijacked Japanese Oil Tanker

Japanese-owned and Bahamian-flagged oil tanker MV Guanabara was seized on Saturday by pirates of an undisclosed nationality 328 nautical miles southeast of Duqm, Oman.

The tanker crew of 24 took refuge in the vessel’s citadel after 4 pirates boarded the ship. Crewmembers thereafter sent out a distress call, which was heard by the multinational coalition known as the Combined Maritime Force. The USS Bulkeley Navy destroyer, assigned to the Combined Task Force 151 counterpiracy mission, was dispatched by the U.S. Central command backed by Turkish NATO warship, the TCG Giresun.

Bulkeley’s specialist boarding team climbed aboard the Guanabara on Saturday and without any exchange of fire detained the 4 suspected pirates and secured the vessel with additional aid from SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. All 24 of the Guanabara’s crew are safe with no reported injuries.

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) announced that this a real and immediate victory for the cooperation with the Combined Task Force 151.

The U.S. Navy has not disclosed where the suspects are being taken, or what course of action will take place for them.

This is the first anti-piracy effort taken by the U.S. since the abrupt murder of 4 American sailors in Somalia.