U.S. Navy chopper prevents pirate attack

LONDON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- A helicopter from the Navy ship USS Kauffman prevented a pirate attack on a ship crossing the Gulf of Aden, a NATO report from London said Monday.

The helicopter was doing surveillance in the area when it spotted a suspect vessel, and it prevented a possible attack on the ship MV Ice Explorer, the report said.

Officers aboard the Kauffman ordered the helicopter crew to pursue the pirate skiff, from which weapons and other objects were tossed into the water, the report said.

An unspecified number of pirates were taken into custody, along with some "pirate paraphernalia."

"The Somali pirates continue to operate in the Gulf of Aden and we will catch them," said Navy Cmdr. Douglas Edson.

"The combination of determined crews from multiple International Task Forces conducting counter-piracy, coupled with merchant vessels utilizing the best management practices, is the key to minimizing the effectiveness of Somali pirates in these dangerous waters," the NATO statement said.