Sailor's Warning

For the second time in seven months, the Maersk Alabama was attacked by pirates Wednesday morning, but guards aboard the vessel were able to thwart their attempts.

Back in April, Tonic senior editor Caroline Walker talked to Third Mate Colin Wright about the eight terrifying hours he spent in a safe space on board the ship after it was hijacked by pirates.

Ship captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage and held at gunpoint in a lifeboat for five days after striking a deal with the pirates, trading him for their leader, who was taken by the Maersk Alabama's crew. Navy SEAL sharpshooters finally freed Phillips, killing three pirates in a daring rescue that captured the world's attention, putting a spotlight on the perils of piracy in the Horn of Africa.

This time, four suspected pirates attacked the ship at around 6:30 a.m. local time, firing on the ship with automatic weapons from about 300 yards away, according to a statement obtained by the Associated Press. The ship was heading for the Kenyan port town of Mombasa.

But, security has been much improved aboard the US trading vessel since the April attack. Private guards on board were able to deter the pirates by firing off their guns and using a high-decibel noise device that emits hair-raising alarm tones.

"This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take proactive action to prevent being attacked and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they're in high-risk areas," Vice Adm. Bill Gortney of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command told the Associated Press.

Not everyone is happy about the armed guards, however. The AP reported that a piracy expert in London said the international maritime community is "solidly against" armed guards on vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different tack. The owners of the Maersk Alabama have taken extraordinary measures since the April hijacking in order to safeguard the ship, including adding safety equipment, making structural changes and hiring an on board security force.

The Horn of Africa is one of the busiest and most dangerous maritime routes in the world.

Photo courtesy of Stig Nygaard via Flickr (not photo of Maersk Alabama.)