MOL car carrier outwits pirates

A Mitsui OSK Lines car carrier, Jasmine Ace, on Sunday successfully outwitted pirate attackers firing from two high-speed boats about 480 miles (about 900km) east of Somalia. It sustained some damage to the hull, but quickly accelerated and took evasive action, zigzagging to avoid its attackers. After about 40 minutes the pirates gave up the chase. No one was injured in the attack and no oil leaked from the hull. Bullets damaged some windows in the wheelhouse, but the vessel continued under its own power and proceeded toward safer waters. Crewed by 18 Filipinos, she was carrying a cargo of 377 used cars. The vessel loaded the cars at the port of Sharjah in United Arab Emirates on March 17 and was on her way to Mombasa, Kenya.