Online Nightly Newscast 11/18

WPRI.com - A Rhode Island man was at the helm of the Maersk Alabama when the cargo ship was once again attacked by Somali pirates. However this time, crews on board the ship were able to thwart the attack, according to the EU's naval force.

Captain Paul Rochford of Barrington was in charge when, for the second time in seven months, pirates targeted the American-flagged ship and attempted to take it over.

"I couldn't believe it. I was..'What?'" said Rochford's sister, Amy. "Actually I wasn't scared because what I heard next was what I expected to hear; that the ship's ok."

According to officials, the pirates, armed with automatic weapons fired on the ship early Wednesday about 350 nautical miles east of the Somali coast. However, the private guards on board fired back and used a high-decible noise device, stopping the attempted hijacking, officials said.

Experts say the international maritime community is against having armed guards onboard merchant vessels. However, it's a practice U.S. ships have adopted. The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said the Maersk followed the industry's best practices by having armed security on board.

The first time the ship was attacked last April, the crew on board the ship was not armed and pirates they were able to take command of it.

They took hostage Captain Richard Phillips who, like Rochford, was a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He was held captive for five days until Navy SEAL sharpshooters freed him while killing three pirates in a daring nighttime attack .

Captain Shane Murphy of Seekonk assumed command of the Maersk Alabama after Phillips was taken hostage. Shortly after returning safely to port, Murphy and his fellow crew members of the urged stronger protection for ships operating in the treacherous waters off the Horn of Africa.

Amy Rochford said the Maersk Alambama made security improvements following the April hijacking. Improvements that were put to the test Wednesday.

"This has been going on for years and that's what he's been trying to tell us for years," Rochford said. "This time we realized the dangers he does face."

Capt. Rochford's wife said her husband doesn't talk much about the dangers at sea.

"It's his job, we try not to. We focus on what's going okay. He knows what he's doing," she said.