EVERETT — The Everett-based USS Momsen and another Navy ship, the USS Bunker Hill, stopped a pirate attack on Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel, the Duqm, Feb. 2 in the Gulf of Oman, Navy public affairs officers reported Monday.
The crew of the merchant vessel sent a distress signal, reporting that pirates were attempting to board the vessel. The Momsen and Bunker Hill, which were in the area, immediately responded.
Two pirate skiffs, which had placed ladders up against the Duqm’s hull, began to flee.
The crew of the Momsen tracked the skiffs’ movement and located the pirates’ mothership towing the two empty skiffs. Following U.N. Security Council resolutions on piracy and U.S. rules of engagement, the crew of the Momsen destroyed the two skiffs to prevent their use for future attacks.
The Momsen is supporting maritime security operations and cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
The story is posted on the Momsen website. Go to www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg92/Pages/USNavyShipsDisruptPirateAttack.
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