MANAMA, Bahrain, March 6 (UPI) -- The multinational anti-piracy fleet said Sunday it thwarted a takeover of an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea.
The MV Guanabara, a Japanese-owned and the Bahamian-flagged vessel, was 328 nautical miles southeast of Duqm, Oman, when it reported the attack Saturday afternoon, the Combined Maritime Forces said.
The American destroyer USS Bulkeley responded, supported by the Turkish warship TCG Giresun.
When the Guanabara's master confirmed that his crew of 24 had taken refuge inside the ship, a squad from the Bulkeley, backed up by a helicopter, stormed the deck and captured four pirates without a shot being fired, the maritime force said.
It has not been decided what to do with the pirates.
The task force's counter-piracy commander, Commodore Abdul Alheem, hailed "a real and immediate victory."
