( CNN ) -- German sailors foiled an attempt by pirates to hijack an Egyptian cargo ship off the coast of Yemen , the German Defense Ministry said . Pirates like these threaten the Somalian coast . The German navy frigate Karlsruhe responded to an emergency call from the Wabi Al Arab Thursday morning , sending helicopters to the stricken vessel . When the helicopters arrived , the pirates broke off the attack , the ministry said . A crew member on the Wabi Al Arab was wounded when the pirates attempted to board the vessel . He was flown by helicopter for treatment aboard the Karlsruhe , the ministry said . The German sailors captured the pirates and disarmed them , destroying the weapons , the ministry said . The German government in Berlin later ordered the Somali pirates released because they were not caught while harassing German interests , according to BBC . The Karlsruhe joined the fight against the pirates on Tuesday from Djibouti , the defense ministry said . On Wednesday a top Japanese official said the country was considering sending vessels to join U.S. , Russian , NATO and Indian vessels in the waters off Somalia , a key shipping route that sees around 20,000 oil tankers , freighters and merchant vessels each year . China said Tuesday that two destroyers and a supply ship from its navy would set sail for the region on Friday to protect Chinese merchant ships . Watch why China 's dispatch of forces is significant » . The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution last week aimed at combating piracy along the Horn of Africa by allowing military forces to chase pirate onto land in cases of `` hot pursuit . '' The Security Council resolution , which passed unanimously , expands upon existing counter-piracy tools , including a stipulation that would allow for national and regional military forces to chase pirates onto land -- specifically into Somalia , where many of the pirates have their bases . Over 124 incidents -- attempted attacks , averted attacks and successful hijackings -- have been recorded to date this year , according to Kenyan Seafarers Association .
German government later ordered pirates released , according to BBC report . Japan was considering sending vessels , a top official said Wednesday . Waters off Somalia is a key shipping route that sees 20,000 vessels each year .