Reba

Read the rest of the story at:

FOXNews.com - Somali Pirates Demand $20 Million Ransom for Weapons-Laden Ship - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

This could get ugly.

American destroyer USS Howard "was stationed off the coast of Somalia on Sunday to make sure the pirates didn't remove tanks, ammunition and other heavy weapons from the hijacked ship."

Deafness

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Byrdie714

We should've never pulled out of Somalia back in the 90's.....

Deaf Mortgage

Royale

Those tanks and ammos are destined for Kenya since the Kenyan government bought them from Russia.

Yes the American warship is staying close to that ship until the Russian warship is coming in. It has displayed a great example of cooperation between two countries.

The piracy off Somali coast has increased significantly lately; therefore , I think it requires attention and a strong action from the international community to deal with the situation. There are several foreign warships in the Somali water in order to protect the 'safe' shipping lane. In this situation, the Ukrainian ship obviously did not use that shipping lane and it went inside the dangerous territory instead. The International Maritime Bureau already warned the shipping and cruise companies to keep away from the Somali water last month.

The IMB's warning about piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

http://www.icc-ccs.org/main/news.php?newsid=117

Map of Pirate Attacks around the world

http://www.icc-ccs.org/extra/display.php?yr=2008

Babyblue

I feel for the crew the pirates have them locked up in an overheated room

These guys are nuts they will fight til death.

International waters are indeed dangerous to travel.

Hopefully the ship and crew will be returned safely

Reba

One crew member died.

Reba

I was kind of surprised that the cargo ship didn't use an armed escort or convoy.

Jiro

Kenya and Ukraine.... c'mon.... kenya doesn't even have navy. Ukraine probably doesn't care since they're simply a seller. The loss is Kenya's problem.

Byrdie714

I'm suprised that the cargo ship wasn't armed themselves.

Reba

They're usually escorted by the sending country, or the country which provided the cargo, which would be Russia.

Reba

A cargo ship is not designed for combat. That's why they use escort ships.

When I was in the Naval Reserve, for several years I served with a Naval Control of Shipping Unit. We were responsible for planning escort convoys and inspecting the readiness of cargo ships for convoys. I was assigned to the cargo ship boarding party. We also took part in many international convoy exercises, so I know a little bit about them.

Byrdie714

True, however if they were going into an area known for piracy--wouldn't you want to have a little protection for yourself?

Wokamuka

I think there's a general law that ships, unless military, cannot be armed. So, many ships arm themselves with water cannons.

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Byrdie714

Well at least there is international goodwill in resolving this issue.

IslandGal

This isn't the first time that pirates attacked on ships off the coast of Africa

SCBassist

Either way, the Somalis will have a hell of a problem unloading those tanks. The US is even contemplating intercepting the ship before it reaches any dock.

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Beowulf

I saw this concerning the alleged deaths of Somali pirates over possible radiation poisoning, possibly from DU contamination of the tanks/cargo within:
The Times - Pirates die strangely after taking Iranian ship
Sounds like a gun-smuggler's paradise off the coast of Somalia.
Either that, or we need to save the pirates from Iran.
Pre-empt strike now.
Lol

Reba

The kinds of weapons, and the size and make up of the crews that are on board commercial cargo ships are limited, especially compared to what the pirates have, and what the military have. They do have "protection" but it's limited. Modern merchant ships require very small crews. Also, a large cargo ship doesn't have much evasive maneuverability.

Did you read about the crew make up? At least one of the crew members was Somali. It's possible that part of this attack was an inside job.

It's very common for the crews of merchant ships to be mixed nationalities. Usually just the master and first mate are the same nationality as the ship's registry (if even that), or each other.

Reba

I just saw an updated picture of the ship. It appears to be a ro-ro ("roll on, roll off"). That means, they don't need cranes to remove the tanks. They can be driven off. However, it still requires a good size port facility to do that, so an interception is possible.

Reba

I'm trying to get more info on the Faina ship, owners, and crew but I don't have an online subscription to Janes' or DNV, so I can't access them.

If you want to know more about ro-ro's in general, these are good links:

RO-RO [ Roll-On / Roll-Off ] Ships

RO-RO [ Roll-On / Roll-Off ]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ry-image01.jpg

Wokamuka

You've (perhaps unintentionally) stepped into a mineland of politico. There are those who say "Somali" and there are those who say "Somaliland". You said, "Somali". Therefore, you denote a favoritism by use of one word.

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SCBassist

You're one to start shit, aren't you? LOL ...OK, tell me why you would call those who originate out of Somalia "Somaliland"? In the above posting, I was referring to those often called "pirates".

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Wokamuka

Screaming and pulling out hair: YOU DIDN'T KNOW?!?!?!? (a remark upon United States' foreign policy).

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SCBassist

Aside from a name of a province, enlighten me.

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Wokamuka

With the waving of the hands and fingerpointing, "I, hearby, do declare thou dost be enlightened!"

READ.

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SCBassist

READ What?! What is this, the politically correct police? I don't think you READ my original post correctly. If you want to start bashing, then bring it on. I feel sorry for the author of this post when it gets locked because you won't get to the point.

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Wokamuka

I am beyond the point. I am, truly, associated with someone from that land. If this thread gets locked for it, it is not because of your sympathies nor my being BEYOND the point.

Get a grip, dude.

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