U.S. Navy intercepts pirate skiff

U.S. Navy intercepts pirate skiff The U.S. Navy said it arrested nine suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday after responding to a distress call from an Indian-flagged commercial vessel.
   At about 4 a.m. local time, the Premdivya sent a distress call to all ships in the area reporting that she had been fired upon by a small skiff, and suspected pirates were attempting to board.
   A helicopter crew from the guided missile cruiser Vella Gulf fired a warning shot after the skiff failed to heed signals to stop. A second warning shot kept the suspects from fleeing.
   Weapons, including a rocket propelled grenade launcher, were found on board.
   The suspected pirates were apprehended and brought on board Vella Gulf, where they were processed and are being held until they are transferred to a temporary holding facility aboard the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark. They will remain aboard Lewis and Clark until information and evidence is assembled and evaluated and a decision is made regarding their further transfer, the Navy said.
   This is the second apprehension of suspected pirates for Vella Gulf in less than 24 hours. There are currently 16 suspected pirates apprehended by the U.S. Navy.
   The U.S. ships are part of an international coalition trying to protect merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden from attacks by Somali pirates.