Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Caifu-Chao

On Sunday, the Pentagon reported that several Chinese naval vessels failed to respond to multiple distress signals from the tanker 'Central Park', which was under attack by suspected Somali pirates. The incident unfolded with the USS 'Mason' and allied ships, including those from Japan, coming to the rescue of the Israeli-linked vessel. Despite being engaged in a counter-piracy mission in the vicinity, at least three ships from the People's Liberation Army Navy did not act on the emergency calls. During the operation, five armed hijackers attempted to escape in a small boat but were apprehended by U.S. Navy personnel. Early assessments indicate that these individuals are likely of Somali origin, with ongoing evaluations regarding their status and future actions. Thankfully, all 22 crew members aboard the 'Central Park' emerged unscathed, having secured themselves in a safe room while the pirates attempted to seize control. In a simultaneous development, two ballistic missiles were launched towards the USS 'Mason' from regions held by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, landing approximately 10 nautical miles away without causing any injuries or damage. Zodiac Maritime, the management firm for the ship linked to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, labeled the incident on 'Central Park' as 'a suspected piracy incident.' On November 27, Zodiac Maritime expressed gratitude towards coalition forces for their swift response, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding maritime operations and adhering to international law. The Turkish-captained vessel featured a diverse multinational crew, including members from Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, India, Georgia, and the Philippines, and was transporting a cargo of phosphoric acid.

On November 26, 2023, five armed assailants from Somalia launched an attack on the tanker 'Central Park' while it was navigating the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Defense Department is currently investigating potential connections between these attackers and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Responding swiftly to the ship's distress signal, the USS Mason, a guided-missile destroyer, along with several naval vessels from an allied counter-piracy task force, rushed to the scene. Notably, three Chinese navy ships were also operating nearby for counter-piracy operations but did not engage with the distress call. Upon the arrival of the coalition forces, the task force demanded the release of the civilian vessel. In the ensuing chaos, the pirates abandoned the ship, fleeing in a small boat. The USS Mason pursued the fleeing attackers and fired warning shots without causing any injuries. Subsequently, the U.S. Navy successfully apprehended the fleeing individuals, bringing them aboard the USS Mason. In a dramatic turn of events, approximately 1.5 hours later, two ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, targeting the vicinity of the USS Mason. The naval crew tracked the missiles which ultimately fell harmlessly into the Gulf, about 10 nautical miles away, without attempting to intercept them. The Department of Defense is investigating whether the Mason was indeed the intended target of this missile assault. Should this be confirmed, it would be a significant escalation, marking the first instance of Houthi rebels intentionally targeting U.S. maritime forces since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.