We approached an unidentified merchant vessel that our supporting helicopter had identified as worth investigation...

BBC: NEWS | UK | Royal Navy captives: Key quotes

It was a type of merchant vessel known as luxury liners or speed queens as they were once called.

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While we are there, a call comes in from a merchant vessel, very concerned about a fishing boat towing a "skiff, " a slim, fast speedboat favoured by the pirates.

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This same status is indispensable for captains, pilots, masters, engineers, mechanics, and in general, for all personnel of the crew of any vessel or airship protected by the Mexican merchant flag or insignia.

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And the vessel was also called on during her transit home, to guard a merchant ship against piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

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