LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today the United States
flag merchant vessel M/V LIBERTY SUN and its crew, operated by American
shipping company Liberty Maritime Corporation of Lake Success, New York, was
attacked by Somali pirates. The pirates fired rocket propelled grenades and
automatic weapons at the vessel which sustained damage. Liberty Maritime
immediately requested the assistance of the United States Navy which
dispatched forces to assist and protect the crew and the vessel. The Company
issued the following statement:
We are grateful and pleased that no one was injured and the crew and the ship
are safe. We have communicated with the families of the crew to inform them
of these developments. We commend the entire crew for its professionalism and
poise under fire.
The LIBERTY SUN was on a voyage enroute to Mombasa, Kenya from Houston, Texas
carrying American food aid cargo for African nations suffering from famine.
Earlier last week, the vessel had discharged thousands of tons of American
food aid cargo in Port Sudan and it was continuing its voyage with additional
food aid when it came under attack from the Somali pirates.
Liberty Maritime's first priority has been, and will continue to be, ensuring
that the crews aboard our ships are safe. We want to especially thank the
United States Navy for its prompt response to our request for assistance. We
also wish to thank the U.S. Government for its cooperation in responding to
this attack.
SOURCE Liberty Maritime
Jamie Moser, Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, +1-212-355-4449
