Pirates attack ship off Somalia

Pirates attack ship off Somalia The International Maritime Bureau is advising ships to steer far from the coast of Somalia following a particularly violent attack by pirates against a United Arab Shipping Co. vessel this week.
   IMB, which is part of the International Chamber of Shipping, said “heavily armed pirates are subjecting vessels to violent attacks while in international waters” and that the attacks “have been targeted towards vessels not calling at Somalia.”
   “Vessels not calling at Somalia, are advised to steer at least 200 nautical miles clear of Somali waters at all times,” IMB said.
   The advice came after pirates attacked a United Arab Shipping vessel Monday with rocket grenade launchers and machine guns.
   According to an Associated Press report, the attack destroyed crew accommodations on the Ibn Younos, a 15,455 gross-registered-ton freighter, which was bound from Duban, South Africa for Dubai. No one was injured.
   The AP said it was the fifth attack by pirates off Somalia since April.