China sends warships to escort ship from pirates

BEIJING - China has sent three warships to escort a Chinese cargo ship that was attacked by the pirates in the Arabian Sea, a media report said Monday.

The China Maritime Search and Rescue Centre (CMSRC) said the crew of the Taishankou hid in a safety compartment when the pirates boarded the ship Saturday.

Twenty-one crewmembers, all Chinese, have now been accounted for aboard the Taishankou, People’s Daily reported.

The centre received a call for help from Taishankou at 4.40 p.m. Saturday. The warships were assigned to escort the ship Sunday.

The attack came after another Chinese ship, the Lecong, was attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean Thursday. One of the 26 crewmembers aboard was injured during a battle with the pirates. The Lecong is now sailing toward Oman under the escort of a Chinese warship.