Zim ship attacked by pirates

Zim ship attacked by pirates

   Israeli ocean carrier Zim had one of its ships attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia over the weekend.

   Associated Press reported that the Maltese-flagged Africa Star was attacked by about 700 kilometers from Somalia, but was able to prevent pirates from boarding the vessel due to coiled barbed wire around the ship's hull, a Zim spokesman told Israeli radio.

   The pirates pursued the ship, which was on its way from Mombassa, Kenya, to the Red Sea port of Djibouti, until they were scared away by a British fighter jet scrambled to aid the vessel.

   None of the crew on board the vessel was harmed. There were no details regarding the cargo the ship was carrying, but it is the first attack on an Israeli-owned vessel.

   According to Zim's Web site, the ship was built in 1988.