NY company's ship damaged in Somali pirate attack

Somali pirates have attacked and damaged an American ship carrying humanitarian aid, but the ship and crew are safe under Navy escort. A US Central Command spokesman says the Liberty Sun reported being attacked around 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) Tuesday. The vessel's owner, Lake Success, New York-based Liberty Maritime Corp., said the pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. The ship was en route from Houston to Mombasa, Kenya. The military spokesman, Navy Capt. Jack Hanzlik, said the Liberty Sun has a crew of about 20. He said the USS Bainbridge sailed to the scene and reported on arriving at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT) that the pirates had left, and there were no injuries.