In 2009, much greater international resolution has resulted in more control of piracy than in the prior decade, although many pirates still operate from
Somalia.
On 2 January a
Netherlands Antilles-registered cargo ship was attacked by pirates in the
Gulf of Aden. A Danish antipiracy ship, the
Absalon, sent an
armed helicopter that fired warning shots and flares. The pirate speedboat caught fire and sank.
On 5 January, a
Sierra Leone cargo vessel was attacked and chased by 4 pirate vessels in the Gulf of Aden. The ship escaped.
On April 8, the cargo of the
Maersk Alabama was attacked and captured by
Somali pirates 240 nautical miles (440 km) southeast of the
Somalia port city of
Eyl.