German Container ship evades pirate attack in the Indian Ocean

March 12, 2010, Published by EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office

The MV Lübeck, previously of the China Shipping Container Lines, and now under German ownership, evaded pirate attack in the Somali Basin some 450 nautical miles NE of the Seychelles in the early hours of 11 March. The ship is a container vessel of 33694 deadweight tonnes and is Liberia flagged.

The Lübeck was en route to Salalah when it was attacked from the rear of the ship, with pirates opening fire with automatic weapons. The ship sustained some minor small arms fire damage to the funnel and crane forward of the ship’s bridge. All personnel are reported to be safe and well. EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation and searching for pirate action groups operating in the area.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

European Union Naval Force Somalia