MV Sun Express

MV Sun Express is a German-owned container ship registered under the flag of convenience of Antigua and Barbuda. A U.S. Marine Force Reconnaissance team boarded the ship off the coast of Somalia on 9 September 2010, reclaiming control from pirates who had seized the ship and taken the crew hostage.^[3][4] At the time it was captured by pirates the ship was traveling from Bilbao, Spain, to Singapore with a cargo of anchor chains.

A UH1N Twin Huey helicopter provides cover as Marines board the MV Magellan Star during a board and seizure.
History
Name	Sun Express since 2012 Previously Magellan Star, Conmar Cape, Judith Borchard, Gracechurch Star. Built as Pioneer Albatross.
Port of registry	Antigua and Barbuda[1]
Laid down	5 December 2000[2]
Launched	28 March 2002[2]
Completed	2002[1]
Identification	IMO number: 9242572 Call sign: V2OE7 MMSI number: 304408000 [1]
Notes	Classed by Germanischer Lloyd since 2002.[1]
General characteristics
Class & type	Container ship[1]
Tonnage	6,277 GT[1] 3,249 NT 7,933 DWT[2]
Length	133.53 m (438.1 ft)[2]
Beam	18.70 m (61.4 ft)[2]
Draught	7.223 m (23.70 ft)[2]
Capacity	735 TEU[2]
Crew	19[2]

The raid

Just before dawn, the U.S. team from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force launched the assault from aboard the USS Dubuque (LPD-8), an amphibious transport ship. It was the first time U.S. military forces off Somalia had staged an action to board a commercial vessel in which pirates were on board with hostages, said a U.S. Navy spokesman.^[5]

Grounding

On 3 November 2012, Conmar Cape ran aground off Subic Bay whilst on a voyage from Manila, Philippines to Hong Kong.^[6] She was refloated between 16 and 18 November.^[7]