Actually, this story is factually incorrect. (check out the comments at gCaptain’s post) Boy, The Maersk Alabama has been attacked and/or approached by pirates multiple times since the first attack that put it on the news. I don’t know if the pirates are all gunning for the ship to get some pay back or there are just more pirates now? I do know that armed security along with good strategy is doing an excellent job of defeating these thugs.
From what I can gather, Nexus Consulting is the security company that the Maersk Alabama uses for protective services. Although I could be wrong here, because the Maersk line uses all sorts of different security companies. –Matt
Pirates Fail in Third Attempt to Seize Maersk Alabama
Peter T. Leach
Mar 9, 2011
Security team fires warning shots, discouraging suspicious skiff
Suspected Somali pirates tried to seize the Maersk Alabama again on Tuesday in the third attempt to hijack it in three years.
Four people suspected of being pirates approached the ship in a skiff in which a hook ladder could be seen. When the skiff came within half a nautical mile, the ship’s captain authorized the firing of warning shots.
“Maersk Alabama was approached by a suspicious skiff with four people and a ladder onboard,” said Kevin Speers a spokesman for Maersk Line Limited, the U.S.-flag subsidiary of Denmark’s Maersk Line.
“The captain followed the appropriate protocol and authorized an embarked security team to fire warning shots in order for the pirates to turn away. Shortly after, the small boat departed the area astern of the vessel,” Speers said in a statement.
Tuesday’s attempted hijacking was the third time pirates have tried to seize the U.S.-flag container ship. The first two attempts occurred in 2009.