[prpaims]

"The mothership was fired on and sunk after its crew members were transferred to a smaller boat in tow, which was allowed to return to the mainland, she said."

okay now i'm confused.

Pirate mothership is cruising along, and HDMS Absalon intercepts it. HDMS Absalon Captain orders crew of pirate mothership to abandon her, and retreat to smaller vessel that she was towing. After the pirates complied, HDMS Absalon sinks pirate mothership, as pirates head back to shore in their smaller vessel.

That, or something very similar to that, is what occurred, as far as I can tell.