MV Sun Express

MV Sun Express is a German-owned container ship registered under the flag of convenience of Antigua and Barbuda. A U.S. Marine Force Reconnaissance team stormed the ship off the Somalia coast on 9 September 2010, reclaiming control from pirates who had seized the ship and taking nine prisoners without firing a shot.[3][4] At the time it was captured by pirates the ship was traveling from Bilbao, Spain, to Singapore with a cargo of anchor chains.

A UH1N Twin Huey helicopter provides cover as Marines board the MV Magellan Star during a board and seizure.
History
Name:
  • Sun Express since 2012
  • Previously Magellan Star, Conmar Cape, Judith Borchard, Gracechurch Star. Built as Pioneer Albatross.
Port of registry:  Antigua and Barbuda[1]
Laid down: 5 December 2000[2]
Launched: 28 March 2002[2]
Completed: 2002[1]
Identification:
Notes: Classed by Germanischer Lloyd since 2002.[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Container ship[1]
Tonnage:
Length: 133.53 m (438.1 ft)[2]
Beam: 18.70 m (61.4 ft)[2]
Draught: 7.223 m (23.70 ft)[2]
Capacity: 735 TEU[2]
Crew: 19[2]

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.[5]

Grounding

On 3 November 2012, Conmar Cape ran aground off Subic Bay whilst on a voyage from Manila, Philippines to Hong Kong.[6] She was refloated between 16 and 18 November.[7]

References
  1. "Magellan Star (9242572)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  2. "Magellan Star (110075)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Germanischer Lloyd. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  3. "US Marines take back pirate-held ship off Somalia".
  4. U.S. Forces Take Ship From Somali Pirates, New York Times, 9 September 2010
  5. Staff, By the CNN Wire. "U.S. forces board pirate-captured vessel, seize control - CNN.com".
  6. Voytenko, Mikhail (9 November 2012). "German boxship Conmar Cape aground off Subic Bay". Fleetmon. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  7. Voytenko, Mikhail (18 November 2012). "German boxship Conmar Cape taken to Keppel Shipyard for repairs after grounding, Philippine". Fleetmon. Retrieved 14 December 2017.

Media related to IMO 9242572 at Wikimedia Commons

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