MSC Melody fends off pirate attack

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-27-2009 15:33

An Italian cruise ship -- the MSC Melody -- has fended off a pirate attack off the coast of Somalia. The ship's Israeli private security forces exchanged fire with the bandits, successfully repelling the attempt.

An undated photo from the MSC Kreuzfahrten GmbH shows the  Italian cruise ship Melody. The captain of the cruise ship  carrying more than 1,500 people whose Israeli security  guards fought off marauding Somali pirates said Sunday the attack had felt like "war".(AFP/HO/File/Msc Kreuzfahrten  Gmbh)

The ship's commander, Ciro Pinto says six men in a small, white Zodicac-type boat approached the MSC Melody on Saturday and opened fire with automatic weapons. The pirates retreated after security officers returned fire and sprayed them with water hoses.

Apart from minor injuries, none of the roughly 1,000 passengers and 500 crew members was hurt. MSC Cruises says all of its cruise ships around the world are staffed with highly-trained Israeli security agents.

Editor:Xiong Qu