IMB praises US rescue operation against Somali pirates

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-15-2009 10:37

Rescued US ship Captain Richard Phillips is expected to be reunited with his crew in Kenya on Wednesday before flying home.

The International Maritime Bureau has praised the US rescue operation against Somali pirates as "robust action".

A US Navy helicopter from the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf closes in on suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden in February 2009. (AFP/US Navy/File/Jason R. Zalasky)

After arriving in Kenya in east Africa, crew from the US ship Maersk Alabama checked into a hotel in Mombasa.

A day earlier, they celebrated Navy snipers' rescue of Captain Phillips by killing three pirates holding him captive in a drifting lifeboat.

Gordon Vanhook, Spokesman of Maersk Line ltd, said, "We are expecting the captain to arrive tomorrow and then reunite with the crew, and we welcome this event."

The successful counter-attack against Somali pirates is also drawing international praise.