MV Liberty Sun
Encyclopedia
MV Liberty Sun is a ship unsuccessfully attacked by Somali pirates on 14 April 2009.
After unloading food aid at Port Sudan
, she was proceeding to Mombasa
with humanitarian aid
, when she was attacked by pirates armed with AK-47
s and rocket-propelled grenades. After successfully avoiding being boarded, she was assisted by . The French
frigate Nivôse captured 11 of the pirates who had attacked Liberty Sun. The Bainbridge had on board Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama hijacking
, shortly after he had been freed in an operation which left three pirates dead and one captured. One of the pirates, Abdi Garad
, told AFP news agency they had intended to destroy the ship and its crew.
"The aim of this attack was totally different. We were not after a ransom. We also assigned a team with special equipment to chase and destroy any ship flying the American flag in retaliation for the brutal killing of our friends."
Chief Mate Bill Kenneweg recorded video of part of the assault.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_KfSPkrw4
After unloading food aid at Port Sudan
Port Sudan
Port Sudan is the capital of Red Sea State, Sudan; it has 489,725 residents . Located on the Red Sea, it is the Republic of Sudan's main port city.-History:...
, she was proceeding to Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
with humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
, when she was attacked by pirates armed with AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
s and rocket-propelled grenades. After successfully avoiding being boarded, she was assisted by . The French
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
frigate Nivôse captured 11 of the pirates who had attacked Liberty Sun. The Bainbridge had on board Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama hijacking
Maersk Alabama hijacking
The Maersk Alabama hijacking was a series of events involving piracy that began with four Somali pirates seizing the cargo ship southeast of the Somali port city of Eyl. This event ended with the action of 12 April 2009. It was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the...
, shortly after he had been freed in an operation which left three pirates dead and one captured. One of the pirates, Abdi Garad
Abdi Garad
Abdi Garad is the name of a Somali pirate commander. Speaking in response to the deaths of three pirates responsible for hijacking the Maersk Alabama, Garad threatened to retaliate against American interests in the region...
, told AFP news agency they had intended to destroy the ship and its crew.
"The aim of this attack was totally different. We were not after a ransom. We also assigned a team with special equipment to chase and destroy any ship flying the American flag in retaliation for the brutal killing of our friends."
Chief Mate Bill Kenneweg recorded video of part of the assault.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_KfSPkrw4