U.S. Marines Take Back Hijacked Ship Off Somalia

Earlier today, a team of U.S. Marines from the 5th Marine Expeditionary Unit successfully boarded and seized the German owned M/V Magellan Star after it was boarded and siezed just a day earlier off the Somali coast.  The incident is reportedly the first in which U.S. military forces have staged an action to board a commercial vessel in which pirates were on board with hostages. The U.S. Navy tells us in a release:

At approximately 5 a.m. local time, Sept. 9, 24 U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force (MRF) aboard USS Dubuque (LPD8) operating under Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), boarded and seized control of Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German–owned vessel M/V Magellan Star from pirates who attacked and boarded the vessel early Sept 8.

This successful mission by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) secured the safety of the ship’s crew and returned control of the ship to the civilian mariners. Nine pirates are currently under control of CTF 151, pending further disposition. This ship’s crew has not reported any injuries or casualties. There were no reported injuries from the U.S. Maritime Raid Force. Keep Reading

According to additional reports, 11 crew members were on board the vessel and were locked in a safe room when the operation took place.  No shots were fired and the pirates surrendered “within minutes”.

We only hope the U.S. Navy will release some cool helmet-cam footage of the operation, like the Dutch Marines did when they took back the M/V Taipan back in April.  Check out the video HERE.

Wonder what it’s like to have Somali pirates approaching your ship?  Check out THIS VIDEO of an attack on the U.S. flagged M/V Liberty Sun.

[Image source: US Navy]

Updated: February 5, 2026 (Originally published September 9, 2010)

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