Early this morning in international waters just off the coast of the African state of Seychelles, the USS Nicholas exchanged fire with and captured a team of pirates. At 12:27 a.m., the USS Nicholas, a U.S. warship, started taking fire from a small skiff. The alleged pirates attacked the warship hoping to receiving emergency money. The USS Nicholas is now holding the five suspected pirates.
Pirate attack on the USS Nicholas
The USS Nicholas was launched in April of 1983 and works as a supply and security frigate. The USS Nicholas was on U.S. Navy operations in international waters. The ship was fired on from three pirates in a small skiff just west of the island nation of Seychelles. The alleged pirates turned their skiff around when the USS Nicholas opened fire. The USS Nicholas pursued the skiff, sank it, and detained the three suspected pirates. The USS Nicholas also captured the “mother ship” of the pirates and two other men.
Seychelles pirate attack
The USS Nicholas attack started like most pirate attacks. A larger “mother ship” will go out to sea, then send out a small skiff with armed pirates. The pirates in the skiff will attack a ship, then hold the crew ransom until they receive ransom cash. Most often, the pirates are paid by an insurance company and the ship is set free.
Piracy on the rise in international waters
In the first half of 2009, the incidents of pirate attacks around the globe doubled, especially around the African continent. Piracy has also led to a boom in insurance plans and loan lenders, though there is now so much competition that the prices have begun to stabilize. The UN has also made declarations about piracy, pointing out that it has a basis in the pervasive poverty of many African nations. Hopefully soon, a resolution is set into motion to prevent any more of this ruthless act.
