2009 in piracy
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In 2009, much greater international resolution has resulted in more control of piracy than in the prior decade, although many pirates still operate from Somalia
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Piracy in Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
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- On 2 January a Netherlands AntillesNetherlands AntillesThe Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
-registered cargo ship was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of AdenGulf of AdenThe Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
. A Danish antipiracy ship, the AbsalonHDMS Absalon (L16)HDMS Absalon and her sister ship HDMS Esbern Snare are the biggest ships ever to serve in the Royal Danish Navy , and are the two members of the Absalon class flexible support ships...
, sent an armed helicopter that fired warning shots and flares. The pirate speedboat caught fire and sank. - On 5 January, a Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneSierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
cargo vessel was attacked and chased by 4 pirate vessels in the Gulf of Aden. The ship escaped. - On April 8, the cargo of the Maersk Alabama was attacked and captured by Somali pirates 240 nautical miles (444.5 km) southeast of the SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
port city of EylEylEyl is an ancient town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. It is situated near the Hafun peninsula.-History:Eyl is the site of many historical artifacts from Somalia's pre-colonial period...
. - On August 27, Somali Pirates aboard M/V Win Far fired a large caliber weapon at a U.S. NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
SH-60BSH-60 SeahawkThe Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.The...
assigned to the USS ChancellorsvilleUSS Chancellorsville (CG-62)USS Chancellorsville is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in service in the United States Navy. She is named for the Confederate victory over Union forces under Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia...
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