THE US and Turkish navies have helped free a Japanese-owned ship from suspected pirates off the coast of Oman, the US military reported.The US Central Command said that on Saturday the Japanese-owned oil tanker MV Guanabara reported it was under attack southeast of Duqm, Oman.The USS Bulkeley was directed to intercept Guanabara, supported by the Turkish warship TCG Giresun, a statement said late Sunday.Following confirmation from Guanabara's master that the suspected pirates were aboard and his crew had taken refuge in the ship's "citadel," Bulkeley's assault team was lowered from a helicopter and detained four assailants."There was no exchange of fire at any time during the operation to release the MV Guanabara," the statement said.
