Completed 2002 Launched 28 March 2002 Draft 7.22 m | Laid down 5 December 2000 Construction started 5 December 2000 Length 134 m | |
Name Sun Express since 2012Previously Magellan Star, Conmar Cape, Judith Borchard, Gracechurch Star. Built as Pioneer Albatross. Notes Classed by Germanischer Lloyd since 2002. | ||
MV Sun Express is a German-owned container ship registered under the flag of convenience of Antigua and Barbuda. A U.S. Marine Force Recon stormed the ship off the Somalia coast on September 9, 2010, reclaiming control from pirates who had seized the ship and taking nine prisoners without firing a shot. At the time it was captured by pirates the ship was traveling from Bilbao, Spain, to Singapore with a cargo of anchor chains.
The raid
Just before dawn, the U.S. team from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force launched the assault from aboard the USS Dubuque, an amphibious transport ship. It was the first time U.S. military forces off Somalia had staged an action to board a commercial vessel in which pirates were on board with hostages, said a U.S. Navy spokesman.