Oct. 27th, Russia Today claims
"The Somali pirates who hijacked a Ukrainian freighter, the Faina, have issued an ultimatum. According to reports on Somali radio they've threatened to kill 20 crew members, if a multi-million dollar ransom is not paid within 24 hours."
It also makes comments that Russia may take some action.
"The Russian warship, 'Neustrashimy' (Fearless,) is now off the Somali coast where it will conduct anti-piracy patrols. It may also be used to intercept the Ukrainian freighter captured a month ago."
There are no reports in the African press regarding the ultimatum by the Pirates.
Could be the Russians are looking for an excuse.
Showing posts with label RT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RT. Show all posts
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Neustrashimy patrols for pirates
Russia Today reports as of October 27th, the Neustrashimy, a Russian warship, has finally arrived off the coast of Somalia.
The M/V Faina, being held be pirates, has 2 Russian crew members. Speculation is, the Russians might use force against the pirates holding this ship.
As I mentioned in my blog of Oct. 25th, Russia asked Somalia permission to use force in Somalia's territorial waters.
The M/V Faina, being held be pirates, has 2 Russian crew members. Speculation is, the Russians might use force against the pirates holding this ship.
As I mentioned in my blog of Oct. 25th, Russia asked Somalia permission to use force in Somalia's territorial waters.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Pressure on Pirates
Finally, ships are arriving off the coast of Somalia to combat the Pirates.
The Russian vessel Neustrashimy is close to the area.
Reuters reports "Russia, which sent a warship to Somalia's coast to combat pirates, asked the African nation on Thursday for carte blanche to use force in its territorial waters."
On Oct. 25, from Russia Today, "The Russian warship 'Neustrashimy' (Fearless) is set to enter the waters off Somalia on a mission to combat piracy. Seven NATO vessels are already monitoring the area which is notorious for hijackings. The Russian vessel may be used to help intercept a Ukrainian freighter (M/V Faina) captured a month ago with 20 people onboard."
Even the Columbia Journalism Review has been following the saga of the M/V Faina.
There are reports, such as this one in Deseret News, that Blackwater is planning to get into the business of protecting vessels from pirates.
"Blackwater is offering the MV MacArthur, a 183-foot vessel with a crew of 14 and a helicopter pad, as an escort for ships through the Gulf of Aden. The helicopters and MacArthur won't be armed, although workers will carry guns, Mathews said."
The Russian vessel Neustrashimy is close to the area.
Reuters reports "Russia, which sent a warship to Somalia's coast to combat pirates, asked the African nation on Thursday for carte blanche to use force in its territorial waters."
On Oct. 25, from Russia Today, "The Russian warship 'Neustrashimy' (Fearless) is set to enter the waters off Somalia on a mission to combat piracy. Seven NATO vessels are already monitoring the area which is notorious for hijackings. The Russian vessel may be used to help intercept a Ukrainian freighter (M/V Faina) captured a month ago with 20 people onboard."
Even the Columbia Journalism Review has been following the saga of the M/V Faina.
There are reports, such as this one in Deseret News, that Blackwater is planning to get into the business of protecting vessels from pirates.
"Blackwater is offering the MV MacArthur, a 183-foot vessel with a crew of 14 and a helicopter pad, as an escort for ships through the Gulf of Aden. The helicopters and MacArthur won't be armed, although workers will carry guns, Mathews said."
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Pirates deadline passed for blowing up M/V Faina
The Somali Pirates gave last night as the deadline for ransom to be paid for the M/V Faina. They said they would blow up the ship if ransom was not paid by the deadline.
The deadline has passed. The ship wasn't blown up.
I was wondering how these pirates decided to make the announcement they would blow up the ship. I can only imagine one of them make such a bold proclamation, and the others said "oh yes, that will really show them, let's do that!" But then reality set in at some point and probably the Pirates decided against this.
Russia Today has an article and a video regarding the M/V Faina, especially from the viewpoint of families of the crew.
The deadline has passed. The ship wasn't blown up.
I was wondering how these pirates decided to make the announcement they would blow up the ship. I can only imagine one of them make such a bold proclamation, and the others said "oh yes, that will really show them, let's do that!" But then reality set in at some point and probably the Pirates decided against this.
Russia Today has an article and a video regarding the M/V Faina, especially from the viewpoint of families of the crew.
Monday, October 13, 2008
M/V Faina - still held by Somali pirates
The deadline for ransom set by the Pirates is tonight. They claim they will blow up the ship and themselves if this deadline is not met.
Russia Today has an article stating there has not been any change to this.
I can only hope the military vessels in the area have some plan.
Russia Today has an article stating there has not been any change to this.
I can only hope the military vessels in the area have some plan.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Pirates Threaten to blow up M/V Faina
This just in
"Sugule Ali tells The Associated Press that the bandits who have been holding the MV Faina for the past two weeks met Friday and decided they will blow up the ship along with themselves and the crew, if they don't get the ransom."
And out of Russia Today, the news reports
"The ship owner got in touch with a pirate who said his name was Muhammad, reports the Maritime Bulletin Sovfracht website. The man said they considered the value of Faina’s load much greater then the value of the ship itself, so they wanted the owner of the weapons to pay for their return.
The web-site also said earlier media reports that claimed the pirates had cut the ransom for the ship and its crew to $8 million were ‘absolutely groundless’.
The vessel was captured by Somalian pirates on September 25 off the Kenyan coast. The ship was transporting arms including tanks, multiple rocket-launch systems, ammunition and other weapons to either Kenya or Sudan according to various sources.
The delivery is subject to a parliamentary investigation in Ukraine along with other arms contracts. The commission suspects many of the deals lacked transparency or were illegal."
I think the problem is no one wants to admit they own this cargo. Ukraine probably shouldn't have exported it, Kenya says they are the importer, but all indications are it is actually destined to southern Sudan. I have read one report claiming the owner of the vessel is Israeli. All of these people are probably thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea if this ship did get blown up (as long as the crew was safe).
It's like the old game "hot potato".
I guess the pirates have figured out that no one wants to negotiate, so they have decided to say they will blow up the ship as a means to force someone to negotiate.
The problem is, I think this will just be a good excuse for force to be used against them.
The Russian warship Neustrashimy is on it's way, but there are no reports of it's exact position. Russia had claimed it would be put into service off the coast of Somalia early Nov., but it really should be arriving before that.
Maybe this will be one time the Americans and the Russians can act together to free the M/V Faina and it's crew. Well, let's hope for at least the crew. Having all that military equipment destroyed probably wouldn't be a bad thing.
"Sugule Ali tells The Associated Press that the bandits who have been holding the MV Faina for the past two weeks met Friday and decided they will blow up the ship along with themselves and the crew, if they don't get the ransom."
And out of Russia Today, the news reports
"The ship owner got in touch with a pirate who said his name was Muhammad, reports the Maritime Bulletin Sovfracht website. The man said they considered the value of Faina’s load much greater then the value of the ship itself, so they wanted the owner of the weapons to pay for their return.
The web-site also said earlier media reports that claimed the pirates had cut the ransom for the ship and its crew to $8 million were ‘absolutely groundless’.
The vessel was captured by Somalian pirates on September 25 off the Kenyan coast. The ship was transporting arms including tanks, multiple rocket-launch systems, ammunition and other weapons to either Kenya or Sudan according to various sources.
The delivery is subject to a parliamentary investigation in Ukraine along with other arms contracts. The commission suspects many of the deals lacked transparency or were illegal."
I think the problem is no one wants to admit they own this cargo. Ukraine probably shouldn't have exported it, Kenya says they are the importer, but all indications are it is actually destined to southern Sudan. I have read one report claiming the owner of the vessel is Israeli. All of these people are probably thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea if this ship did get blown up (as long as the crew was safe).
It's like the old game "hot potato".
I guess the pirates have figured out that no one wants to negotiate, so they have decided to say they will blow up the ship as a means to force someone to negotiate.
The problem is, I think this will just be a good excuse for force to be used against them.
The Russian warship Neustrashimy is on it's way, but there are no reports of it's exact position. Russia had claimed it would be put into service off the coast of Somalia early Nov., but it really should be arriving before that.
Maybe this will be one time the Americans and the Russians can act together to free the M/V Faina and it's crew. Well, let's hope for at least the crew. Having all that military equipment destroyed probably wouldn't be a bad thing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Update - Shooting Aboard M/V Faina
I don't know what to believe, but will just post what I have found
Russia Today claims there was a dispute amongst the pirates, with a shoot-out and 3 of them dead.
The BBC says there was a shoot-out, but no report as to the extent of the injuries.
The Russian Times has this quote from a U.S. Navy spokesman, but I don't know how reliable it is, considering the BBC does not have the same quote.
"The shipment of 33 Russian-designed tanks, rifles and ammunition onboard the Ukrainian-operated Faina was headed for Sudan, not Kenya as previously claimed,” Deputy spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, Lt. Nathan Christensen said.
And not just Sudan, but in particularly to the Darfur region - the place that has a UN arms embargo imposed on it. The situation off the African coast has put more pressure on an already politically tense Kiev."
The Russians are throwing their weight around because it is from the Ukraine.
This whole thing may become more about arms dealing than about piracy.
Update 11:00 AM CDT
CNN reports there were 3 killed on Monday, and additonal gun fire onboard on Tuesday.
Russia Today claims there was a dispute amongst the pirates, with a shoot-out and 3 of them dead.
The BBC says there was a shoot-out, but no report as to the extent of the injuries.
The Russian Times has this quote from a U.S. Navy spokesman, but I don't know how reliable it is, considering the BBC does not have the same quote.
"The shipment of 33 Russian-designed tanks, rifles and ammunition onboard the Ukrainian-operated Faina was headed for Sudan, not Kenya as previously claimed,” Deputy spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, Lt. Nathan Christensen said.
And not just Sudan, but in particularly to the Darfur region - the place that has a UN arms embargo imposed on it. The situation off the African coast has put more pressure on an already politically tense Kiev."
The Russians are throwing their weight around because it is from the Ukraine.
This whole thing may become more about arms dealing than about piracy.
Update 11:00 AM CDT
CNN reports there were 3 killed on Monday, and additonal gun fire onboard on Tuesday.
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