[ADN Kronos] - Crew members aboard an Italian container ship have survived a violent attack from pirates in the Persian Gulf. Pirates reportedly fired rocket launchers and machine guns. at the 46,000 tonne vessel, 'Italagarland', owned by Italia Marittima from the northeast city of Trieste, around 300 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.It set sail from the Malaysian port of Danjung, and was en route to the port of Aden in southern Yemen when it was attacked.
The container ship was carrying a crew of 22 people - including nine Italians. Officials from the port authorities police central command told Adnkronos no-one was injured in the violence.
Eight pirates on two small ten-metre boats reportedly fired on the ship and the crew sounded the alarm with the local port authorities.
After making contact with port authorities' central operations, the captain of the ship ordered a series of manouevres and stepped the speed of the vessel to escape further attack.
The Italian naval vessel, Etna, which was around 300 nautical miles from the boat under attack, also received the alarm.