Russian Warship to Remain in Somalia

As six U.S. warships are surrounding the M/V FAINA, a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship laden with tanks and heavy weaponry, and a crew of 21, the Russian frigate Neustrashimy (Fearless) raced to the scene.


U.S. officials say its Navy warships tracked the seized cargo ship because of fears the weapons might be handed off to al-Qaida-linked Islamic insurgents in Somalia. The FAINA was transporting the weapons to South Sudan. The original demand of $20 million for the hijacked ship has been dropped to $8 million. The pirates via a satellite phone said they would fight to the death. The ship has a cargo of T-22 battle tanks, grenade launchers, and ammunition and spares parts destined for the Kenya military.

Somali pirates have release the two Malaysian oil tankers and their crews for an estimated ransom of $4 million. The ships owned by the Malaysian company MISC Bhd, and the ransom was delivered with assistance of the Malaysian navy. The MT Bunda Melati Dua was hijacked on August 19 with a crew of 29 Malaysians and 10 Filipinos.

One Filipino crewman was killed by a stray bullet when the pirates boarded the vessel.
The hijacking of the FANIA has been to most high-profile event in the wave of ship seizures off Somalia. The shipping lanes are considered the most dangerous in the world and the most costly for shipping companies to insure in transiting the area.

However, the EU is planning to create an anti-pirate patrol, which will join the U.S. and allies already have 10 warships in the area. Russian announced it too would join the West in protecting the Somalia waters from further attacks. The French have said they would support a joint effort to use force to remove the pirates from the transit lanes.

The Maritime Bureau states as of last Friday, 67 pirate attacks have been recorded in the Gulf of Aden this year, which includes 26 hijacked ships. Of the hijacked ships, 12 vessels and more than 250 crewmembers remain in the hands of the pirates.