|
Thousands of
dolphins blocked the suspected Somali pirate
ships when they were trying to attack
Chinese merchant ships passing the Gulf of
Aden, the China Radio International reported
on Monday.(Photo: Cri.cn) |
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/14/content_11184581.htm
BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Thousands of
dolphins blocked the suspected Somali pirate ships
when they were trying to attack Chinese merchant
ships passing the Gulf of Aden, the China Radio
International reported on Monday.
The Chinese merchant ships escorted by a
China's fleet sailed on the Gulf of Aden when they
met some suspected pirate ships. Thousands of
dolphins suddenly leaped out of water
between pirates and merchants when the pirate ships
headed for the China's.
The suspected pirates ships stopped and then
turned away. The pirates could only lament their
littleness befor the vast number of dolphins. The
spectacular scene continued for a while.
China initiated its three-ship escort task
force on Dec. 26 last year after the United Nations
Security Council called on countries to patrol gulf
and waters off Somalia, one of the world's busiest
marine routes, where surging piracy endangered
intercontinental shipping.
China's first fleet has escorted 206 vessels,
including 29 foreign merchant vessels, and
successfully rescued three foreign merchant ships
from pirate attacks.
About 20 percent of Chinese merchant ships
passing through the waters off Somalia were attacked
by pirates from January to November in 2008, before
the task force was deployed.
A total of seven ships, either owned by China
or carrying Chinese cargo and crew, were hijacked.
Tianyu No. 8, a Chinese fishing vessel with
16 Chinese and eight foreign sailors aboard, was
captured by Somali pirates on Nov. 14 and released
in early February.
The second fleet of Chinese escort ships
arrived at the Gulf of Aden on Monday to replace the
first fleet.
(Xinhua and Cri contributed to the story)