Pirates Set Fire to Cargo Ship After Failed Hijacking

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported that pirates have set the Estelle Shipping-owned cargo ship, M/V Pacific Express, ablaze after they were unable to take control of the vessel.

The IMB reports indicate that the armed pirates were aboard two skiffs about 300 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Kenya, and attempted to seize the vessel.  The Cyprus Maritime-managed Pacific Express crewmembers were all able to retreat to the onboard citadel and dispatched for assistance. 

PHOTO CAPTION: M/V Pacific Express on fire.  Photo courtesy of NATO.

In response to the refuge of the crew, the pirates then set fire to the ship in hopes it would thwart the crew from the citadel.  The piracy flagship of NATO, Andrea Doria, was sent to answer the request. According to the Italian Navy, the pirates fled the scene when they noticed the Andrea Doria approaching.

NATO security teams then evacuated the 26 crew members who were in the citadel, including a Ukrainian ship master, and 25 Filipinos.  The men boarded the Andrea Doria and will be transported to Mombasa.

The M/V Pacific Express had been en route to Mombasa to drop off shipments of steel bars and coils before the attack.  There are no reports on the fate of the Cyprus-flagged vessel as of yet.