Photo Gallery Pirate Attack Ends in Tragedy
An attempt to rescue the pirated German freighter Beluga Nomination off the coast of Somalia ended in tragedy, with at least one crew member dead. This photo was taken by the Seychelles Coast Guard on Tuesday, Jan. 25. A patrol ship from the Seychelles opened fire on the pirates the following day.
The Beluga Nomination was captured by pirates on Jan. 22. Shipowners are now demanding that the German military protect their ships.
The German freighter Taipan was captured by pirates in 2010 and later freed by Dutch marines.
The Somalis involved in the attack on the Taipan incident are now on trial in Hamburg. The case could set a legal precedent, but prosecutors face huge challenges.
South Korean special forces rescued the crew of the hijacked South Korean cargo ship Samho Jewelry on Jan. 21, 2011.
The special forces unit killed eight pirates during the operation.
Somali pirates are now using a captured freighter, the York, as a mothership, vastly extending their operational ranges.
Piracy is a lucrative business for many people in Somalia, and rising ransoms attract more people to the trade.
