Russia sends warship after Somali pirates seize tank-laden vessel

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Somali pirates grab Ukranian ship loaded with tanks

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Somali pirates have seized a Ukrainian ship carrying more than 30 tanks to Kenya and Russia said on Friday it was sending a warship to combat piracy in the region.
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In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the United States was monitoring the situation and considering its options in response to the seizure.

"The nature of the cargo is something that has us taking a particular interest in this," Whitman said.
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Russia's navy said it had sent a warship to Somalia's coast and would conduct regular anti-piracy patrols in the area.
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Many ships have been seized in the Gulf of Aden, a sea artery used by about 20,000 vessels a year heading to and from the Suez Canal. The shipping lane carries almost one-tenth of the world's shipping by tonnage.

Pirates are holding about a dozen vessels and more than 200 crew members. Their business has flourished as the Islamist-led insurgency on shore has deepened. Somalia has been in civil conflict since 1991.

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[+3] - djjd62 - 09/28/2008i thought it was funny that the pirates lowered the ransom when they realised it was used equipment

@Walter Hinteler,

The captured ship:

(Of funny-peculiar interest might be where the Faina was formerly flagged:
since 1983 May 30: Sweden, aince March 26 Belgium, since 1991, July 19 .... Luxemboutg [sic!], aince 1996 Aug 06 Panama , and now Belize.)

The Russians have send a frigate, Neustrashimy Class (Type 11540):

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An U.S. warship (the destroyer "USS Howard") and at least two EU-countries warships have come close to the Ukrainian ship Faina seized by Somalia pirates according to agencies and naval sources.

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i thought it was funny that the pirates lowered the ransom when they realised it was used equipment

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@djjd62,

Don't fancy the pirates' chances of survival very much, but maybe they'll try to bargain with the lives of the crew when they realise what they're up against.

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@djjd62,

I think the larger motivation is that they have no chance of making off with the equipment, used or not. They'd have to dock the boat (instead of escaping in speed boats) and a couple of countries are already determined not to let them escape with the cargo (they don't have any way to unload it anyway).

So they really only have the crew as bargaining chips.

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@Robert Gentel,

Hi Robert.
According to the BBC this morning, warships of at least three navies are in attendance.
Interesting problem- if you're not a Ukrainian crewman, that is. One is reportedly dead already.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7641468.stm

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Extra destroyers and cruisers were deployed within 10 miles of the Ukrainian vessel Faina being held by Somali pirates because of "great concern" over the possibility of the tanks and other weapons aboard the ship falling "into the wrong hands," said a spokesman for the 5th Fleet.

And the German navy is with a couple of P-3C ORION's there, too.

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Russia sends warship after Somali pirates seize tank-laden vessel

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