Frigate sent to probe freighter piracy report

A Greek frigate, accompanied by helicopter-borne elite navy commandos, was heading for international waters off the southwestern Peloponnese yesterday after authorities in Athens were notified of an alleged pirate attack on a Norwegian freighter. The Merchant Marine Ministry said its search and rescue center (EKSED) was told by Norwegian merchant marine authorities yesterday afternoon that the captain of the Norwegian-flagged KCL Banner had issued a coded piracy alert some 50 miles south-southwest of Pylos.