Pirates capture tanks

cyrusdvirus

This is a tad scary....wonder was it targeted??

Ukranian ship carrying tanks seized by pirates
A Ukrainian ship captured by Somali pirates en route to Somalia is carrying at least 30 tanks, a regional maritime organisation said today.

Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine also said the ship, operating under a Belize flag, had a military cargo "including about 30 T-72 tanks".

That would be a significant and potentially dangerous seizure in Somalia, where Islamist insurgents have been battling the government and its Ethiopian military allies for nearly two years.

Although the subject of a UN arms embargo, the Horn of Africa nation is awash with arms. Reports that tanks had been taken by pirates also raised questions about their original planned destination.

"Some say it was carrying about 38 tanks, others say 30," said Andrew Mwangura, of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme.

"In the past, military equipment has come through Mombasa on its way to south Sudan, but we have not seen any south Sudanese officials at the port waiting. And anyway, there is an arms embargo for Sudan."

A statement from Ukraine's foreign ministry identified the vessel as the Faina, but made no reference to its cargo.

The statement quoted the ship's operators as saying 17 of 21 crew members, including the captain, were Ukrainian nationals, with the remainder from Russia and Latvia.

Heavily armed pirates have seized more than 30 vessels off Somalia so far this year, making its waters the most dangerous in the world. The gangs seek, and often get, large ransoms.

Many of the seizures have been in the Gulf of Aden, a major sea artery used by some 20,000 vessels a year heading to and from the Suez Canal.

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

Tabnabs

Fuuk, that's not good...

Tenger

Wouldn't you think that a military shipment of that scale would have armed protection on board to keep pirates away?

I'm no sailor but I know that coast of Somalis is dangerous,what was a military cargo doing in dangerous waters? This seems terribly not right...................

Cookie_Monster

Bramble wrote: »

Wouldn't you think that a military shipment of that scale would have armed protection on board to keep pirates away?

I'm no sailor but I know that coast of Somalis is dangerous,what was a military cargo doing in dangerous waters? This seems terribly not right...................

Being sneaky i'd guess

Fratton Fred

The thing is, its a bloody great big cargo ship that is probably tracked 24 hours a day.

as soon as the pirates try and unload that little they are going to get zapped by something very fast and very noisy.

i would guess this is just a coincidence and they would rather have had a boat load of whiskey.

Manic Moran

Well, I don't think the Belgians ever got their 15 Pandurs back when they got nicked two years ago either. (A quarter the entire Belgian inventory)

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/dude-wheres-my-pandur-01873/

NTM

Leadership

30 T72's especially if the are the latest upgraded versions with reactive armour would be enough heavy support to take most of the African nations.

ButcherOfNog

Tanks ain't much use without trained crew, trained mechanics, spare parts, ammo etc

Tenger

ButcherOfNog wrote: »

Tanks ain't much use without trained crew, trained mechanics, spare parts, ammo etc

While true they may only need them to work for one assault. Even the pyscological effect of a few tanks may be enough to however has them.



Can they make it to Chad?

Run_to_da_hills

ButcherOfNog wrote: »

Tanks ain't much use without trained crew, trained mechanics, spare parts, ammo etc

Im sure some microsoft equivilant T72 tank simulator could be downloaded to train any crew.
These guys that buy into this stuff aren't exactly poor. Money would buy anything on the black market.


Im surprised that this ship was not escorted by a navy back up from the beginning. The Russian navy is on its way now and god knows what they will do.

lostexpectation

Manic Moran wrote: »

Well, I don't think the Belgians ever got their 15 Pandurs back when they got nicked two years ago either. (A quarter the entire Belgian inventory)

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/dude-wheres-my-pandur-01873/

NTM

well that suggest equitorial guinea stole them for their army, slightly different to pirates

Fratton Fred

There are us and russian destroyers approaching the area, i can't imagine either will think twice about sinking the cargo ship.

HashSlinging

They are looking for 35 million U$ dollors for the boat.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0928/breaking23.htm

Tabnabs

Fratton Fred wrote: »

There are us and russian destroyers approaching the area, i can't imagine either will think twice about sinking the cargo ship.

Eh? I can 100% guarantee that they won't engage and sink this ship.

It will be boarded and returned to her owners or the ransom paid and the ship returned minus a lot of military hardware.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7640496.stm

HashSlinging

Those T72 tanks are massive, I seriously doubt pirates would know how to operate one.

Savvy

concussion

ButcherOfNog wrote: »

Tanks ain't much use without trained crew, trained mechanics, spare parts, ammo etc

There is ammunition as well as spare parts on board - not much point exporting a weapons system without the means to operate and sustain it.

HashSlinging wrote: »

Those T72 tanks are massive, I seriously doubt pirates would know how to operate one.

Savvy

I reckon they know how to sell 'em!

iceage

"You buy 5, I give you one free!"

Fratton Fred

Dyflin wrote: »

Eh? I can 100% guarantee that they won't engage and sink this ship.

It will be boarded and returned to her owners or the ransom paid and the ship returned minus a lot of military hardware.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7640496.stm

OK, sinking the ship may be a bit over dramitic, but the area is controlled by Islamist rebels, there is no way these tanks are getting off that ship. I believe there are also a large amount of RPG etc on board, which the rebels are more interested in. It looks like they could end up in Chad as well.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4842684.ece

cyrusdvirus

Looks like Cap'n Jack Sparrow bit off more than he can chew this time. I'd doubt that the USN or the Russian ship will let that move from where she'd moored

Warships surround Somali pirates


Somali pirates aboard a ship carrying tanks and weapons that they have seized say they are surrounded by at least three foreign warships.
One is the American US destroyer USS Howard, another is from Russia but the nationality of the third is not clear.
But one of the pirates said they were not afraid and had enough food to withstand a siege.
A maritime expert said the ship was carrying "dangerous chemicals" and warned against using force.
Andrew Mwangura, of the Kenya-based Seafarers' Programme, also told Reuters news agency that a military helicopter had flown over pirate speedboats heading to reinforce the Ukrainian-operated ship, the Faina, moored near the town of Hobyo.
"With the helicopter and the Howard watching them, the tactic is clearly to scare the pirates."

Pirate Sugule Ali told the AFP news agency by satellite phone that his group wanted a ransom of $20m (£11m) and were not interested in the weapons.
Earlier, the pirates had demanded $35m.
"It is true we are surrounded by three foreign military vessels and there are some others we can see in the distance," Mr Ali said.
"We are not afraid of their presence, that will not make us to abandon the ship or to refrain from asking for money.
"There is no shortage of food supply and all the crew members are healthy and well, including ours."
He admitted that one of the kidnapped sailors had died, but said this was from natural causes.
Meanwhile, Kenya has insisted that the shipment of 33 72-T tanks on board were destined for its military.
Various sources have suggested that they were really bound for the autonomous government of South Sudan, in possible contravention of a UN arms embargo.
'Propaganda'
Mr Mwangura said two previous shipment of Ukrainian weapons had already passed through Kenya.
"There have been alarming propaganda by the pirates to media that the weapons are not for the Kenyan military. This is a tactic by the terrorists to try and fend off reprisals against them," Kenya's government spokesman Alfred Mutua said.
The former rebel SPLA which governs South Sudan has denied any links to the tanks, reports the UN-sponsored Radio Miraya FM.

However, it also quoted the SPLA's Major General Byor Ajang as saying that the army had the right to import weapons from anywhere in the world without co-ordination with the government in the north.
Earlier, a spokesman for the US Navy's 5th Fleet, Lt Nathan Christensen, said the USS Howard was within 8km (5 miles) of the Ukrainian vessel, but refused to say whether they were preparing to attack the pirates.
He said the ship's cargo of battle tanks made it a particularly worrying situation.
"We're concerned that this might end up in the wrong hands, such as terrorists or violent extremists," he said.
Islamist insurgents, not known to have links to the pirate gangs, are battling government troops, their Ethiopian allies and African Union peacekeepers in the capital, Mogadishu.
Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered continual civil strife, with rival armed groups fighting for control.
The waters off the coast of Somalia are considered some of the world's most dangerous.
Even ships carrying food aid are often targeted, hampering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the estimated three million Somalis in need of aid.
France, which has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force patrol in the area, has intervened twice to release French sailors kidnapped by pirates.
Authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland say they are powerless to confront the pirates, who regularly hold ships for ransom at the port of Eyl.

Chuck U Farley

Pirates die mysteriously on captured Iranian ship

Somali authorities say they believe an Iranian ship being held by pirates could be carrying illegal chemical weapons. Since its capture a number of pirates have apparently died due to a mysterious illness. Local authorities have been unable to inspect the vessel as it is anchored offshore and still under the control of the hijackers. Almost everyday a ship is attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The recent capture of a Ukrainian vessel carrying 33 tanks and other ammunition has highlighted the dangers of the region.

The U.S.-based Long War Journal has published a story on one hijacking that stands out from all the others - the capture of an Iranian ship the MV Iran Deyanat in August.

Long War Journal’s Nick Grace says he has spoken to several officials in Somalia, who work both for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia as well as the autonomous government in Puntland state. They’re convinced that the ship is carrying chemical weapons.

“Some of the pirates have come down with skin burns, others were losing their hair and, according to numerous reports, a number of the pirates have also died from whatever is held in the cargo of this ship,” said Grace.

Although the mystery over this ship's cargo has sparked fears of illegal chemical weapons on board, not all Somali officials agree.

Somali Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed Handule, said they don’t have any precise information of what is on board the ship.

According to Andrew Mwangura, who’s taken part in negotiations with many pirate gangs in Somalia, it's not likely anyone will find out exactly what is on the MV Iran Deyanat until it's released.

The Iran Deyanat belongs to a state-owned Iranian company which has been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for alleged weapons smuggling. Iranian officials have denied the ship was transporting chemicals.

“Our vessel was not travelling from Iran but was going from China to the Netherlands. It was carrying rocks, cement and metals and not chemicals as reported by our foes,” said Mahmud Akhmadi from the Parliamentarian Committee on Security and Foreign Relations of Iran.

So far, the ship's owners haven't come to an agreement with the pirates over the ransom. The Iranian media has suggested the U.S. has offered the pirates $US 7 million just to inspect the vessel - something which has been neither confirmed nor denied in Washington.

Tenger

Chuck U Farley wrote: »

Pirates die mysteriously on captured Iranian ship

I think they should all die from mysterious gunshot wounds to the head.

Fratton Fred

"its not chemicals boss, no way. There is this one container though with stickers all over that have a black symbol on a yellow background and for some reason has a long word that looks like the name of Mickey mouse's dog."

"Its quite handy though, cos it glows in the dark and keeps us all warm at night.":D

Chuck U Farley

Fratton Fred wrote: »

"its not chemicals boss, no way. There is this one container though with stickers all over that have a black symbol on a yellow background and for some reason has a long word that looks like the name of Mickey mouse's dog."



I reckon that’s about bang on, pardon the pun.

Hagar

I'd be more inclined to suspect massive doses of radar/microwaves from nearby US warships. I'd lay good money they have some new stuff that they have just been dying to try out.

cyrusdvirus

Hagar wrote: »

I'd be more inclined to suspect massive doses of radar/microwaves from nearby US warships. I'd lay good money they have some new stuff that they have just been dying to try out.

More to the point getting some idiot to stand in their way so HE can die to try it out!!

Tabnabs

Hagar wrote: »

I'd be more inclined to suspect massive doses of radar/microwaves from nearby US warships. I'd lay good money they have some new stuff that they have just been dying to try out.

Not with ships crew still aboard they won't do that. Plus microwave fries you from the inside out (as they found out in the early days of the technology).

Hagar

Are the crew US citizens?

Chuck U Farley

Just in:

The exact nature of the cargo remains officially a mystery but officials in Puntland and Baidoa are convinced the ship was carrying weapons to Eritrea for Islamist insurgents. "We cannot inspect the cargo yet," Osman said, "but we are sure that it is weapons."
The US Navy (and the French and the Russians) have been hove to off the coast of Eyl, going anywhere once released, it will be seized once it gets to sea. The specific clauses that have been approved in both the UN and in Congress would allow the US Navy to seize the ship under the suspicion clause. The claims that there are weapons onboard, and the possibility there might be chemical weapons, has insured there is at the very minimum, an inspection of the ship by outside authority will be mandated. At this writing, the MV Iran Deyanat is at anchor, watched closely by American, French and Russian naval units.
Although American intelligence and government sources are maintaining a strictly observed silence, the same does not apply to the Russians and so it is that we learn the real story of the MV Iran Deyanat. She was an enormous floating dirty bomb, intended to detonate after exiting the Suez Canal at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and in proximity to the coastal cities of Israel. The entire cargo of radioactive sand, obtained by Iran from China (the latter buys desperately needed oil from the former) and sealed in containers which, when the charges on the ship are set off after the crew took to the boats, will be blasted high into the air where prevailing winds will push the highly dangerous and radioactive cloud ashore.
Given the large number of deaths from the questing Somali pirates, it should be obvious that when the contents of the ship’s locked cargo containers finally descended onto the land, the death toll would be enormous. This ship was nothing more nor less than the long-anticipated Iranian attack on Israel. Not the expected rocket attacks (which could be interdicted by the Israelis) but even more deadly and unexpected attack by sea.. It is very interesting to note that the Israeli government has in the past few weeks, been loudly demanding that the United States establish a naval blockade of Iran.
The reason for this blockade would be to prevent any more Iranian ships with deadly cargos from attacking either Israel or other targets from the sea.

RugbyFanatic

out of interest whats your source for these articles chuck u farley?

Chuck U Farley

Several different news groups, media and political forums, general traffic which anyone could pick up.

Tabnabs

A wonderful story Chuck, sadly the facts don't stack up. This is the Iran Deyanat;



She is designed to carry large cargoes of bulk (iron ore, coal etc.) Not a container ship. So no WMD there either...

Also, the Israeli's are extremely vigilant about any vessels (big or small) approaching their waters and all vessels are intercepted by the Israeli Navy long before they get near the coast.

RugbyFanatic

Chuck U Farley wrote: »

Several different news groups, media and political forums, general traffic which anyone could pick up.

Yes but what sources in particular? What's the source for those two articles? What major, reliable source has run the story?

You haven't been getting all this information from Conspiracy Theory websites have you?

Chuck U Farley

Morning all
Here is a quick two in one reply:
Dyflin
Thank you and yes it’s a great story, I didn’t write so chill. I was merely bringing to the forum an article relative to the topic. Tanks are one thing but chemical weapons is another as she is an ore carrier (well spotted by the but depending where the article is originated it may well get translated into English so words, phrases and terms could/will change, as is the case in the last article) so she could carry quite a lot of anything. Personally I believe that it may be radioactive waste or of that nature.
As for a container like I said I didn’t write it, but I would not be as naïve as to believe that all shipping traffic within twenty – thirty miles off the coast can be properly checked and registered.

RugbyFanatic
As for conspiracy theory websites don’t have much time for them personally. What is the source of the articles; try the European Media Monitor (EMM) which filters global news. I do have to admit the second article is truly flying the flag of B.S Propaganda and strangely enough it came from an Israeli paper with it being very close to their holiday season tensions are a bit high. Was it a dirty bomb? Nobody knows until it can be properly searched.

Guys I hope this answers your questions. Let the shredding begin.

Tabnabs

You see, I have been to Israel on a merchant ship and know very well the security procedures that are carried out, so believe me when I say that no ship (or yacht, RIB, etc. ) will get anywhere near the Israeli coast unchallenged.

Plus radioactive waste has to be carried in something like this http://www.pntl.co.uk/pntl-fleet/pntl-ships.asp or else the crew will die off in quick time from radiation poisoning.

Again, a wonderful (source less?) story, that doesn't stack up.

Run_to_da_hills

The military arms ship MV Faina is finally released after a ransom of only $3.2m was agreed compared to the initial ransom of $20. This was the highest-profile vessel held by pirates as the intended destination of its cargo was disputed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7871510.stm