Ukrainian Crew Members Foil Somali Pirates

Ship's crews are getting more creative about taking care of their ships against pirates.According to the following article, the crew of this ship locked themselves in the engine room and blocked controls, the Ukrainian government said. The pirates gave up after failing to gain control.
    . . . June

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AFP: Crew foils Somali pirates:

KIEV — Pirates who hijacked a Greek-operated cargo off Somalia finally let it go because the Ukrainian crew members prevented them from taking over command, the Ukrainian government said on Monday.

The foreign ministry in Kiev said the pirates had given up after failing to take control of the MG Lugela because the 12 crew had locked themselves in the engine room and blocked the helm and other controls.

'In line with a prepared plan, the crew shut themselves in the engine room with sufficient food and water,' the ministry said. 'Keeping command of the controls, they did not allow the pirates to change course for the Somali coast.'

'After two days aboard an uncontrollable ship, the pirates finally gave up and abandoned it.'

George Tripakis, managing director of TDM Carrier, the Athens-based operator of the Lugela, said earlier that the captain had contacted the company late Sunday.

"He informed us that everybody is OK, alive, the pirates not on board, and the vessel is proceeding to Bombay (Mumbai, India)."

Pirates attacked the vessel on Saturday some 900 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, after it left the Gulf of Aden, the Brussels-based the European Union NAVFOR command said.

The ship had left the Egyptian port of Alexandria and was heading to Mauritius carrying steel bars and cable, the owners said. Following its release it was ordered to change course for Mumbai to undergo an examination.

"We would like to check the vessel" in the Indian port, Tripakis said, though he did not know if the ship had been damaged.

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