Photo Gallery Pirate-Infested Waters
German soldiers aboard the frigate "Karlesruhe" off Djibouti, during maneuvers in December.
The "Karlsruhe" is in the Gulf of Aden to defend commercial vessels from pirates as part of the EU-led Operation Atalanta.
An unknown pirate in Eyl, a Somali coastal town. "If someone tries to attack us, it would be suicide."
The "Hansa Stavanger," a container ship from Hamburg, was captured April 5 and remains in the hands of Somali pirates. Five German crew members are on board.
The "Tanit," a French yacht, was seized April 4.
Fifteen successful hijackings occurred in March alone, and over the last two weeks the number of attempts has jumped. Experts say pirates have started to hunt far from the international patrols.
The "USS Bainbridge" was over 500 kilometers when it set out to rescue an American freighter, the "Maersk Alabama," on Wednesday.
The "Maersk Alabama" crew overpowered its kidnappers before the "Bainbridge" arrived. But Captain Richard Phillips, shown here in a family photo, is still in the hands of the pirates.
The "Maersk Alabama" was headed for the Kenyan port of Mombasa when it was attacked some 500 kilometers (310 miles) off the Somali coast. Photo is undated.
