MV Sun Express
 A UH1N Twin Huey helicopter provides cover as Marines board the MV Magellan Star during a board and seizure.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name |
|
| Port of registry |  Antigua and Barbuda[1] |
| Laid down | 5 December 2000[2] |
| Launched | 28 March 2002[2] |
| Completed | 2002[1] |
| Identification |
|
| Notes | Classed by Germanischer Lloyd since 2002.[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Container ship[1] |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 133.53 m (438.1 ft)[2] |
| Beam | 18.70 m (61.4 ft)[2] |
| Draught | 7.223 m (23.70 ft)[2] |
| Capacity | 735 TEU[2] |
| Crew | 19[2] |
MV Sun Express is a German-owned container ship registered under the flag of convenience of Antigua and Barbuda. A U.S. Marine Force Recon stormed the ship off the Somalia coast on September 9, 2010, reclaiming control from pirates who had seized the ship and taking nine prisoners without firing a shot.[3][4] At the time it was captured by pirates the ship was traveling from Bilbao, Spain, to Singapore with a cargo of anchor chains.
The raid
Just before dawn, the U.S. team from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force launched the assault from aboard the USS Dubuque, an amphibious transport ship. It was the first time U.S. military forces off Somalia had staged an action to board a commercial vessel in which pirates were on board with hostages, said a U.S. Navy spokesman.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Magellan Star (9242572)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Magellan Star (110075)". Vessel Register for DNV. Germanischer Lloyd. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ US Marines take back pirate-held ship off Somalia
- ^ U.S. Forces Take Ship From Somali Pirates, New York Times, September 9, 2010
- ^ U.S. forces board pirate-captured vessel, seize control
External links
