Chinese ship saved from pirate attack by pod of dolphins as ANOTHER American ship comes under rocket fire

A pod of dolphins has saved a Chinese ship from being hijacked by Somali pirates, it has been claimed.

The report emerged as pirates fired automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. cargo ship M.V. Liberty Sun off the coast of Somalia last night.

China Radio International said thousands of dolphins blocked suspected pirate ships as they raced towards a Chinese ship in the Gulf of Aden.

As the dolphins leapt out of the water, the pirates turned back. Chinese news agency Xinhua claimed the pirates 'could only lament their littleness before the vast number of dolphins'.