Pirates attack Maersk ship 

Singapore-flagged containership Maersk Newbury

Singapore-flagged containership Maersk Newbury was on Tuesday last week (October 2) boarded by pirates while transiting under pilot at Guayaquil River in Ecuador.

The master alerted the local authorities when he sighted the presence of unauthorized persons on board, according to Asian piracy watchdog ReCAAP ICC.

One of the crew members was assaulted by the robbers and sustained a small cut on his forehead. The crew managed to escape and hide in the forecastle store.

After the robbers realized that they had been discovered, they left the 2,556 TEU ship.

The Ecuador Coast Guard (ECG) conducted a search, finding no perpetrators on board. The injured crew was given first-aid treatment, and the ship resumed its voyage.

ReCAAP said there were no injuries to the remaining crew members and no items were stolen.

Built in South Korea in 2001, Maersk Newbury is owned by Danish shipping giant Maersk.

Previously known as Caroline Schulte, the ship was attacked by pirates also in October 2006 when eight robbers came alongside the ship, at port side, and one robber boarded, while the ship was at anchor off the South Atlantic Ocean. 

The attackers however escaped after the crew raised alarm.



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