A boarding team from the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) approaches the Japanese chemical tanker Golden Nori following the tanker's release by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Dec. 12, 2007. The release of Golden Nori marks the first time in more than a year that no ships are held by Somali pirates. Whidbey Island is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility to conduct maritime security operations, which are intended to ensure security and safety in international waters so that all commercial shipping can operate freely while transiting the region.

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Size: 1673px × 1195px
Photo credit: © Vital Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: archive, armed, defence, forces, military, reportage, servicemen, usa