Chinese seamen rewarded for saving ship from pirates

Source: Xinhua | 01-24-2009 08:23

SHANGHAI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Shanghai shipping company has rewarded 30 of its seamen with 10,000 U.S. dollars each after they successfully fought off a pirate attack off Somalia in the Gulf of Aden.

The crew members of the Chinese cargo ship Zhenhua 4 and  guests pose for cameras during a commendation ceremony at  Changxing Island Port in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 23,  2009. Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd held a  commendation ceremony here on Friday, and rewarded 30 of its seamen with 10,000 U.S. dollars each for their bravery  and courage. Nine pirates armed with rocket launchers and  heavy machine guns boarded the ship in the Gulf of Aden on Dec. 17. The crew locked themselves in cabins, using fire  hoses and self-made firebombs to keep the attackers at bay for  six hours. Foreign warships and helicopters were contacted  and helped Chinese seamen beat back the pirates later. No  one was injured in the attack.(Xinhua/Chen Fei)

Each crew member of the cargo ship, Zhenhua 4, was being rewarded for their bravery and courage, said Guan Tongxian, president of Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co.

The crew received the reward in a commendation ceremony at Changxing Island Port, after their vessel returned to Shanghai on Thursday morning to be welcomed by crowds of people.

Nine pirates armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns boarded the ship on Dec. 17. The crew locked themselves in cabins, using fire hoses and self-made firebombs to keep the attackers at bay for six hours.